To realize just why it is necessary to understand despotism in Iran you only have to remember that despotism has a 2500 year history. To believe that it can be quickly abolished is nothing but a naIve dream.

In Despotism in Iran the -how- of despotic rule is dissected, rather than the -why.- The -why- is related to the history of Iran and is not a concern in our time. In modern times there is no historical necessity for this type of government to rely on.

Many of the assertions in Despotism in Iran apply to other nations and countries with similar...