Iran is different, more liberal, and more open-minded than we often think, and the democratic forces have repeatedly gained the upper hand. This is demonstrated by young exiled Iranian Peyman Jafari, who lives in the Netherlands, in his impressive introduction to recent Iranian history. Iran is a deeply divided country. Ahmadinejad represents the frightening side, characterized by fundamentalism, nuclear armament, and oppression. On the other hand, Iran, even within its spiritual leadership, is a democratic and enlightened country. This is exemplified by the "Green Movement" against Ahmadinejad. Peyman Jafari explores this modern, yet not necessarily Western, Iran from a historical perspective. He shows how democratic revolutions and dictatorships have alternated since the beginning of the 20th century and describes the cultural, economic, and foreign policy factors involved.