Iran's Nowruz Revolution: Legacy of Violence, Promise of Nonviolence and Celebrations as Civil Disobedience (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781478344087)

It is said that two invincible forces were created in the 20th century: the atom bomb and nonviolence. IRAN'S NOWRUZ REVOLUTION examines the potential for nonviolence as a force against one of the last ruthless religious regimes still in power today.

Iran has been at the crossroads of clashing armies, religions, tribes and ideas since the dawn of time. For too many of its citizens, violence has become life as usual. A gripping account of the violence inflicted on Iranians from the distant past to the present day shows how the Iranians' psyche is shaped in the belief that political violence is fait accompli. In addition, IRAN'S NOWRUZ REVOLUTION shows how totalitarian regimes like the Islamic Republic deliberately use violence to create sources of fear, trauma and terror in society as tools for submission and control.

IRAN'S NOWRUZ REVOLUTION is also a study on the evolution of nonviolence and explains why its great spiritual and social force has wide appeal and can overcome the tyranny of the current leadership in Iran despite Iran's legacy of violence.

Nowruz (new-day), the ancient Iranian celebration of New Year at the start of spring, holds deep meaning of hope, revival and rebirth for Iranians. IRAN'S NOWRUZ REVOLUTION is an investigation of how nationwide civil disobedience and the momentum for a nonviolent revolution in Iran can be achieved through the employment of powerful monthly celebrations of peace, charity and kindness exemplified by Nowruz and which are abhorred by the current religious regime.

Iranians long for a transition to a political system based on the principles of human rights, and are desperate for additional nonviolent methods to further their campaign against the pervasive terror. IRAN'S NOWRUZ REVOLUTION shows how the spirit of resistance that galvanized the Iranian Green Movement of 2009 can be rekindled and sustained in present day Iran using Nowruz and other Iranian celebrations as tools for civil disobedience.