Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in 2011: Is the IRGC on the Verge of Strategic Overreach?

Abstract

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' (IRGC) heavy-handed execution of both foreign and domestic policy, coupled with a distressed Iranian economy that is inextricably linked to the IRGC, are creating a backlash both within Iran and among the international community that could lead to the eventual undoing of both the IRGC and Iran's current regime. Despite the IRGC's current position of exceptional power and influence, the IRGC may be teetering on the verge of strategic overreach. A careful analysis of recent events involving the IRGC reveals signs of growing dissent and turmoil within its own ranks. Additionally, the IRGC's activities are significantly contributing to a rising swell of political dissidence in Iran, as well as mounting disorder within the ranks of the current Iranian regime. Ironically, it appears that the very mechanisms that contributed to the IRGC's rapid ascendance to power may now be sowing the seeds of its eventual demise.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 01, 2011
Accession Number
ADA600580

Entities

People

  • Craig M. Clarkson Ii

Organizations

  • Marine Corps University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Counter WMD
  • Cyber
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Ground and Sea Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Economic Sanctions
  • Governments
  • Intermediate Range Ballistic Missiles
  • Iraqi-War
  • Military History
  • National Governments
  • National Politics
  • National Security
  • Personnel Management
  • Political Systems
  • Students
  • Terrorism
  • Terrorists
  • United States
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare
  • Weapons Of Mass Destruction

Readers

  • Economics
  • Military History of the United States in the 20th Century.
  • Nuclear Non-Proliferation and International Security