The Political Ideology of Ayatollah Khamenei Out of the Mouth of the Supreme Leader of Iran UCLA Center for Middle East Development (CMED) Series

Ayatollah ?Ali Hosseini Khamenei, Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, is one of the most controversial and influential Muslim leaders in the world today. As Iran?s main decision-maker, his theocratic ideology and decisions carry global consequences.

The Political Ideology of Ayatollah Khamenei is the first book to identify and analyze the development and evolution of the theocratic ideology of the Supreme Leader from 1962 to 2014, using his own writings, speeches, and biographies, as well as literature published in the Islamic Republic of Iran. This work provides new insights into Khamenei?s political thought and behavior and their impact on Iran?s domestic, regional, and international policies. Correlating the development of Khamenei?s personality, character, and political behavior with Iran?s internal and external challenges, this study explores key issues of the Middle East region, in particular Iran?s political posture toward Israel, the United States, and the Muslim world, and the diplomatic crises unfolding over Iran?s nuclear development program. This work provides a comprehensive chronological and thematic survey of Khamenei?s life.

This book will be of interest to students, scholars, researchers, diplomats, and policymakers focusing on Middle Eastern politics, Iranian affairs, Islamic studies, and international relations; and could serve as an essential resource for those striving to understand Iran?s policies toward Israel, the United States, and the Muslim world, as shaped by its supreme autocrat.

PART I: HISTORICAL BACKGROUND: THE EARLY YEARS CHAPTER 1: The Rise of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini: The Islamic Revolution and the Establishment of the Islamic Republic of IranCHAPTER 2:The Political Journey of ʿAli Hosseini Khamenei During the Iranian Revolution, 1962–1979CHAPTER 3:The Political Leadership of Ayatollah Khamenei After the Victory of the Islamic Revolution CHAPTER 4:President Khamenei, 1981–1989CHAPTER 5:Khamenei’s Succession to Supreme Leadership PART II: SUPREME LEADER KHAMENEI, 1989–2014 CHAPTER 6: Khamenei: The LeaderCHAPTER 7: Khamenei: The PersonCHAPTER 8: The Struggle Over Reconstruction of Iran After Khomieni: President Hashemi Rafsanjani, 1989–1997CHAPTER 9: The Iranian Reform Era and the Debate Over Foreign Policy: President Mohammad Khatami, 1997–2005CHAPTER 10: Tehran Spring and the Debate Over the Freedom of the Press: President Mohammad KhatamiCHAPTER 11: Iran’s Nuclear Era: President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, 2005–2013CHAPTER 12: The Era of Diplomacy: President Hassan Rouhani, 2013–2014 PART III: CENTRAL THEMES IN AYATOLLAH KHAMENEI’S IDEOLOGY CHAPTER 13: AmericaCHAPTER 14: Muslim UnityCHAPTER 15: FreedomCHAPTER 16: Religious DemocracyCHAPTER 17: Iranian YouthCONCLUSION

Yvette Hovsepian-Bearce is a Middle East scholar and researcher specializing in the role of Iran in contemporary world politics, and is a fellow at the Center for the Middle East Development at the University of California, Los Angeles. She earned a B.A. in Business, a Masters in Theology, and Ph.D. in Islamic Studies. Using her linguistic expertise in several Middle Eastern and European languages, she provides consulting services to various state and federal judiciaries.