Thursday, June 11, 2009

The Ghost of Mosaddeq

Anyone pleasantly surprised to see Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad genuinely struggling in the ongoing elections should take a moment to thank the late Mohammed Mosaddeq, one of Iran’s greatest democrats and a bitter foe of the United States.

Mosaddeq perhaps more than any other figure in modern Iranian history showed how a combination of populist energy and sophisticated politicking behind closed doors can deal major blows even to a powerful government unafraid to steal elections. That vibrant political legacy is on display now in the various forms of opposition mounting against Ahmadinejad, who may indeed still prevail even so.

For a great book on Mosaddeq’s rise and fall, read All the Shah’s Men by Stephen Kinzer. And for those looking to understand the complicated internal political machinations of Iran, the Persian Puzzle by Kenneth Pollack is a thorough and lively overview worth picking up.

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