Dr Jahangir Amuzegar, an international economic consultant, received his PhD in economics from the University of California, Los Angeles, after studying law at the University of Tehran, Iran and economics at the University of Washington, USA. He was Iran’s Minister of Commerce in 1962-63, Minister of Finance in 1963 and Ambassador-at-Large from 1963-79. He was also an executive director of the International Monetary Fund from 1974–80. Dr Amuzegar has held a number of academic positions, including at the University of California at Los Angeles, Michigan State University and the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. Dr Amuzegar’s many publications include more than 100 articles published in, amongst others, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, Middle East Journal, Middle East Policy, Middle East Economic Survey and Third World Quarterly. He is also the author of several books on Iran, oil and economic development, including Iran: Economic Development under Dualistic Conditions (1971), Iran: An Economic Profile (1977), Comparative Economics (1981), The Dynamics of the Iranian Revolution (1999), Iran’s Economy under the Islamic Republic (1997) and Managing the Oil Wealth: OPEC’s Windfalls and Pitfalls (I.B. Tauris, 1999), which was awarded Choice’s Outstanding Academic Title.

• Foreword. The Author. Acknowledgements. A Word of Caution. Part 1: Overview The Unforeseen Upheaval. The Anti-Monarchy Manifesto. Velayat-e-Faqih in Theory and Practice. Legalized Anarchy. Report Card’s Partisan Assessment. Report Card’s Objective Evaluation. Underlying Causes. Favourable Prospects Part 2: The Articles 1. The Iranian Economy before and after the Revolution 2. Islamic Fundamentalism in Action 3. Iran’s Unemployment Crisis 4. Islamic Social Justice: Iranian Style 5. Iran’s 20-year Economic Perspective 6. Iran’s Oil Stabilization Fund: A Misnomer 7. Khatami’s Legacy 8. Sanctioning the Islamic Republic: A New Global Wave 9. Iran: The Rial Saga 10. Iran: The Subsidy Dilemma 11. Ahmadenejad’s Legacy 12. Nuclear Iran: Perils and Prospects 13. Iran’s Oil as a Blessing and a Curse 14. The Islamic Republic of Iran: Facts and Fiction 15. Iran’s Economy Facing a Challenging Year