Losing Legitimacy: The End of Khomeini's Charismatic Shadow and Regional Security

(Hardback)

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This book contends that the transition of leadership from Ayatollah Ali Khamenei will result in a crisis of legitimacy for the Islamic Republic of Iran. Using Max Webers typology of legitimacy, the book explains that the Islamic Republics legitimacy was based on the charismatic authority of the regimes founder, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Since Khomeinis death in 1989, the regime has failed to develop the rule of law necessary for legal-rational authority. Moreover, it abandoned the logical underpinnings justifying clerical rule when a mid-ranking cleric rather than a Grand Ayatollah was placed in the position of Supreme Leader. With neither a legal basis nor a traditional basis of authority, the new leader relied extensively on the cover of Khomeinis charismatic shadow for legitimacy. After nearly four decades, this shadow is fading. Not only will Khameneis successor lack the same direct ties to Khomeini, but the demographic and societal changes in Iran have made the charisma of Khomeini a historical concept rather than a viscerally felt experience. First the book analyzes the likely succession scenarios, finding the most probable outcome is the appointment of a hardline conservative backed by the regimes security forces. Next, the regimes economic, political, and social failures are presented, in order to explain why the new leader is likely to try to return to a traditional basis of legitimacy religion. Thereafter, the book explains how this hardliner focus on religion is likely to result in an aggressive Iranian foreign policy toward the United States, Israel, and Saudi Arabia, impacting the regions security.

Reviews

"Cliff Sherrill has achieved something rare with his new book on Iran. He has written a scholarly treatise that is both readable and highly relevant to policymakers. The leadership transition in Iran will have a huge impact on the future of the Middle East and America's relationship to it. Getting it right about that future could be the difference between war and peace. Anyone interested in that future should read this book!" -- Dr. J.D. Crouch II, former Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Advisor
In this comprehensive and thoughtful book Clifton Sherrill engages with two political themes of immense contemporary relevance the crisis of legitimacy for successor regimes; and the externalization of internal insecurity. The Islamic Republic of Iran, one of the most pivotal states for the comprehension of international crises, constitutes the lens through which he views these processes. Although Sherrill adopts the theoretical framework of neoclassical realism, his findings would also resonate with those interested in the issues of security spill-over, securitization, and foreign policy decision-making. Thus, this volume will be of immense interest to students of national, regional, and international security. -- Brendan Howe, Associate Dean and Professor, Ewha Womans University Graduate School of International Studies

Author Bio

Clifton W. Sherrill is associate professor of political science at Troy University.