Painting the General

Over the past two decades Iran's irregular warfare capabilities have expanded dramatically with a network of highly capable proxy actors emerging and consolidating. This network, developed by the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps was expertly directed by its mysterious and charismatic leader Major-General Qasem Soleimani. Aside from becoming a key actor in Middle Eastern politics, highlighted by the tensions brought about by his targeted assassination by US strike in Iraq in January 2020, Soleimani had, more recently, been turned into a brand and a key tool of power by Tehran. This book explores the ways the image of the General has been painted and constructed to appeal to different audiences which serve multiple purposes for the regime. Using an original analytical framework to examine these 'nested frames', we explore the consolidation of legitimacy and authority. -- .