Khatami and Gorbachev: Politics of Change in the Islamic Republic of Iran and the USSR

Why is it important to compare the experiences, successes and difficulties of Mohammad Khatami and Mikhail Gorbachev, two leaders operating in very different political environments and cultures? Both men were products of two of the 20th century’s most momentous revolutions and both sought to reform from within the contradictions and problems which these revolutions produced. Zhand Shakibi provides the first comparative analysis of Khatami and Gorbachev based on first-hand interviews and previously unpublished sources, revealing the extent of their common goals and predicaments. The importance of this study lies in its demonstration of how similar political features in completely different political environments can produce common political outcomes. This book is a fascinating resource for political scientists, international relations specialists and historians of 20th century politics.