ISLAMIC REVOLUTIONARY GUARD CORPS, IRGC (Sepah-E Pasdaran) the MILITARY POLITICAL ECONOMIC STRUCTURE of IRAN
Sub-Title:
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, IRGCAuthor:
Stephen HughesPublisher:
Stephen HughesPublication Date:
05-24-2013ISBN:
9780988985124Subjects:
Military Art And SciencePolitical Science
Available as:
Electronic book text, 9780988985124Description:
In the last two decades former and current cadres of the IRGC have gained total grip on all three branches government. They are in control of judiciary, executives, governors, mayors; over 60 percent represent Members of Parliament. They are in control of sport, schools and universities and in control of their curriculum, and they have even just started controlling kindergartens. The IRGC and Al Qods have vast economic resources beyond the military budget, and prestige; they enjoy access to the best recruits. In the face of foreign aggression, the abstract notion of ?guarding the Revolution and its achievement? may be a reference to the IRGC?s role in maintaining the ideological nature and survival of the regime.
Since 1989, IRGC has had a dominant position in the Iranian economy through lucrative energy, construction, and foreign trade government concessions, which has resulted in monopolizing significant sectors of the economy. Beginning around 2000, the IRGC's hand further extended into new and far more lucrative sectors of the economy. IRGC became measurably active in the Iranian stock market in 2005. Most significantly, noted in 2000-2007 IRGC was awarded billions of dollars in contracts in the oil, gas and petrochemical industries, as well as major infrastructure projects. The IRI started awarding some of the no-bid contracts directly to the Guard's engineering arm, Khatam Al-Anbia. Other times, the link is more indirect.
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