The ongoing rivalry between the United States and Iran is an important facet of contemporary International politics. The Iranian Revolution has been central political event that contributed to such a confrontation. This book traces the roots and manifestation of American perception of Iran with particular focus on the Iranian Revolution. It analyses the nature of American orientalism and epistemological moorings of Middle East area studies in the United States so that one is able to grasp the stock of image and gamut of ideas that shape American perceptions of Iran. It brings forth the Islamic political discourses and the political economy factors that contributed to the Iranian Revolution and shows the basic flaws of American views and analyses of it. American perceptions are studies here by undertaking a thorough-going critical analysis of policy documents, memories of policy makers and academic writings. This study provides a refreshing break from usual foreign policy analyses by paying attention to the realm of ideas that constitute policies and perceptions.
