Salaam,
Has anyone read the Ph.D dissertation by Edmund Hayes titled "The Envoys of the Hidden Imam: Religious Institutions and the Politics of the Twelver Occultation"? What is your opinion on the work?
I've got a hold of it recently and have just started reading it. For anyone who hasn't read it and is interested, firstly, here's the abstract:
Secondly, here's a download link to the full dissertation: http://s000.tinyupload.com/index.php?file_id=02225929387109073692
Fi Amanillah
PS. Please let me know if there's a better place to upload.