Analyzing the historical context of Iran's tribal dynamics, the book explores the evolution of tribe-state relations from the Pahlavi era to the Islamic Republic. It highlights the socio-economic and political factors that weakened tribal politics under Reza Shah, leading to modern ethnic nationalism and the detribalization process. Focusing on the land reforms of the 1960s and the 1979 revolution, it discusses the decline of traditional khan leadership and the emergence of new tribal leaders aligned with the regime, offering a fresh perspective on tribal politics.
Stephanie Cronin Knihy


Focusing on subaltern social groups, including the 'dangerous classes' contrasted with the new bourgeois elite created by the infant Pahlavi state, this 'history from below' of Iran demonstrates the explanatory power of global, transnational and comparative approaches to the study of the Middle East.