Irans Basij Resistance Force is a paramilitary organization used by the regime to suppress dissidents, vote as a bloc, and indoctrinate Iranian citizens. Captive Society surveys the Basijs history, structure, and sociology, as well as its influence on Iranian society, its economy, and its educational system. Saied Golkars account draws not only on published materialsincluding Basij and Revolutionary Guard publications, allied websites, and blogsbut also on his own informal communications with Basij members while studying and teaching in Iranian universities as recently as 2014. In addition, he incorporates findings from surveys and interviews he conducted while in Iran.