Description: "The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has yet to be directly analysed as a military security complex with significant political influence. This book explores Iran's IRGC and Qods Force, focusing on its development following the Iranian Revolution, and how they have skilfully transformed Iran's defense doctrine to fight an irregular war that challenges the US and the West. Chapters detail the birth of the IRGC, its political development and influence within Iran, its relationship to militias and terrorist organizations such as Hezbollah, and involvement in Yemen and Iraq. Keshavarz brings first-hand knowledge of what government institutions are looking for with respect to the IRGC, outlining Iran's hybrid war capabilities that the US and West often misunderstand or miss altogether, in order to provide a foreign policy analysis that identifies the challenges of Iran's irregular capabilities and what measures are needed to combat it"--
Brief description: Alma Keshavarz previously served on the Secretary of State's Policy Planning Staff at the Department of State.
Review Quotes: Set within the framework of hybrid warfare, Keshavarz's authoritative study offers a unique insight into the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), an essential cornerstone of Iran's security infrastructure and foreign policy. With a compelling narrative tracing the IRGC's birth, rise to prominence, and its role in shaping Iran's military doctrine, this work not only demystifies the complex Iranian security landscape but also reveals the strategic calculus behind the Islamic Republic's geopolitical manoeuvres.