Capitalism in Contemporary Iran: Capital Accumulation, State Formation and Geopolitics

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By situating Iran within the neoliberal global capitalism and resulting geopolitics, this book traces the patterns of capital accumulation and transformations in class and state formation emanating from it.

It shows that Iranian neoliberalisation has brought about two capital fractions, namely the internationally-oriented capital fraction and the military-bonyad complex. It substantiates that the co-existence of these competing class fractions with different accumulation strategies has generated hybrid neoliberalism.

The book further demonstrates how this new class formation has reorganised the function and operation of state institutions and transformed state ideology. By documenting the ways in which Iranian neoliberalisation has reshaped the subaltern classes and formed Iran's volatile foreign policy, it also provides a novel account of major events and processes in contemporary Iran, such as the post-2017 wave of uprisings, the nuclear programme and international sanctions.

Reviews

'This is a powerful and highly original account of Irans political economy. Unlike so much analysis and commentary on Iran, Valadbaygi carefully situates processes of domestic class formation and the countrys deep social antagonisms within the development of the wider capitalist world market. This deeply insightful re-telling of Irans history - stretching from the 1979 revolution through to the recent Women, Life, Freedom revolts - is a must-read for understanding Irans place in the current global order, as well as the countrys ongoing and fractious political struggles.' Adam Hanieh, University of Exeter

'Capitalism in contemporary Iran provides an original account of the modern Iran that rethinks its complex development and revolutionary ruptures through the wider dynamics of global capitalism and its geopolitical sinews. The first book-length application of the philosophy of internal relations to capitalist development in Iran, Capitalism in contemporary Iran synthesises the global and the local to rethink Iran beyond exceptionalism and culturalism through the intersection of social classes, the state, and global capitalism. Capitalism in contemporary Iran is a must read for academics, students and political practitioners alike.' Kamran Matin, University of Sussex


'With Capitalism in Contemporary Iran Kayhan Valadbaygi delivers the most influential single book on the making of contemporary Iran and therefore the most valuable in helping us to understand the geopolitics of our times.' Adam David Morton (University of Sydney), co-author with Andreas Bieler of Global Capitalism, Global War, Global Crisis.


'This book successfully situates Iran in the global history and historical sociology of capitalism. A must-read for anyone interested in Iran.' Ayse Zarakol, University of Cambridge

Valadbaygis work builds on an impressive range of sources that make the book essential reading for scholars researching Iran. Its theoretical framework can also inform studies of political economy in other states with comparable positions in international hierarchies. The book offers a strong critique of dominant discussions within Iranian studies.
Maziar Samiee
University of Sussex, UK
The Journal of Development Studies

Incredibly valuableValadbaygis analysis is theoretically solid and academically grounded. The book relies on an extensive set of primary sources in Persian and English, spanning from institutional and independent databases and archives, newspapers and periodical reports, documents from various Iranian ministries and international organizations as well as official documents produced by the European Union and the United States. These materials are combined with a rich and extensive list of secondary sources that show special attention to the intellectual debates and knowledge produced not only for an English-speaking audience.
Stella MorganaUniversity of Liverpool, England, UK
British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies

Author Bio

Kayhan Valadbaygi is a Lecturer in International Relations of the Middle East in the Institute for Area Studies (LIAS) at Leiden University