Acknowledgments

I am indebted to a number of people for their help and support. Peter Evans for his inspiration to take on the project of Iranian automobile development. His scholarly advice was instrumental in understanding the complexities and nuances of industrialization in the global south. Neil Fligstein for introducing me to social field theory and how it can be used to analyze positive development outcomes in intermediate states. Heather Havemen for her inspiration to appreciate and apply mixed methods in social science research. Robert Cole for his many conversations about the global automobile industry and his myriad suggestions to improve the manuscript. Taghi Azadarmarki of the University of Tehran for educating me about Iranian politics and industrialization.

I would also like to thank the reviewers who provided excellent advice to shape the manuscript and to improve its theoretical framing. In addition, a number of scholars provided valuable feedback by reading chapters of the book or during conference presentations. These scholars include Josh Whitford, Clemente Ruiz Duran, Danny Breznitz, Andrew Schrank, Sean O’Riain, Kevan Harris, and Peter Moore.

Without the assistance of local Iranians, fieldwork would not have been possible. I would like to thank Hossein Bahrainy for his valuable research assistance and for his contacts at the University of Tehran. Aref Vakili was instrumental in making contacts in the automobile industry, in setting up interviews, and for archival research. Ali Dadgar assisted in finding valuable archival data at government development agencies. Hossein Mirazi for teaching me about how to interact with government and Islamic institutions and setting up interviews with managers at automobile companies. Others who were very important include Yadollah Dadgar, Ali Heidarnia, Noushin Sayar, and Samira Kazempour.

I would also like to thank Roberta Scholz for her excellent editing work and Gloria Chun for teaching me how to write more clearly. I am grateful to Ali Sadegh, my former engineering teacher at the City College of New York, who was the first to inform me about the existence of Iran’s automobile industry. Thanks to Mike Ross of CGI International, who taught me how engineering consultancies develop automobile industries in the global south.

I would not have been able to complete my dissertation without loving support from my family. Without the child care support from my mother-in-law, Socorro Gomez Ching, I would not have been able to conduct fieldwork in Iran. Socorro, I will always be indebted to you for being a wonderful and loving grandmother to my children. My wife, Meilin, for her support and encouragement throughout the years, even during the tough times of pursuing a Ph.D. in sociology. To my twin boys, Adrian and Emil, who have always brought me great joy, especially when my dissertation began to form into this book. In loving memory of my mother who gave me tremendous love and affection as a child and young adult. Many thanks to my father for his intellectual and emotional support to pursue a Ph.D. Also, in loving memory of Mahin Afzal, my aunt who provided a place to stay in Tehran for this research, and who provided my family with many years of loving support, especially during my mother’s illness.

Finally, I would like to thank my former mentors and friends at the University of Hartford, where as a young adult I learned the importance of scholarly work. Barbara Streitfeld, my first semester psychology teacher and advisor, has been a great friend for many years and encouraged me to seek higher education. Howard Mayer who taught me the basics of good writing and the value of being a great writer. And David Goldenberg who has been a fan of my work over the years.