What Iranians Want: Women, Life, Freedom [Paperback]

The first major book on the new Iranian revolution

'A document of real optimism.'Guardian

A window into the new Iran in the making, demanded by its activists, artists and citizens

The 2022–3 Women, Life, Freedom protests set Iran aflame. Today, the fire still burns, as Iranians all across the country down their tools and take to the streets to demand social and economic justice: the right to a normal life.

InWhat Iranians Want, Arash Azizi shows us how Iranians nurtured the flame of resistance since the very inception of the Islamic Republic in 1979. From mass strikes in Kurdistan to Hijab burnings, for decades Iranians have put their lives on the line to demand a better future – an end to crushing poverty, political liberty and greater social equality.

Ayatollah Khamenei’s order is built on sand. They may crush protestors in blood today but tomorrow Iranians will rise up again and proclaim their freedom.Arash Aziziis a historian and the author ofThe Shadow Commander: Soleimani, the US, and Iran’s Global Ambitions. He is a contributing writer forThe Atlantic. He has written for numerous publications, including theNew York Times,Washington Post,Newsweek,New Lines Magazine,Toronto StarandJacobin, and several of his book-length translations have appeared in Iran and elsewhere. He lives in New York City. @arash_tehran'A document of real optimism, and a thoughtful examinationof the layers of work on which political change is built.'Guardian'Moving beyond the traditional approach of reviewing the past rounds of protests — the 1999 student movement, 2009 Green Movement, and 2017 and 2019 economic protests — Azizi’s thematic lens provides the reader withanaccessible and comprehensive overlay of popular activism led by everyday heroes who languish in Iran’s jails or lã(