The organs of the iranian state serve the revolution, not the other way around. In iran, the revolution of 1979 and the rise of islamic fundamentalism resulted in a return to many traditional customs the revolution of 1979 ended the westernization and modernization of iran, and set up a traditional government and society based upon the koran. Just as islam increasingly became the catalyst for the 1979 revolution, it also acted as a unifying force for iranians throughout khomeinis tenure as supreme leader. Islamic revolution simple english wikipedia, the free. Less noticed, but equally significant, the revolution provoked a response by saudi arabia and various sunni militant groups that set the stage for the rise. Its lessons for today kamran nayeri and alireza nasab achievements the february 1979 iranian revolution was the largest urban mass uprising since the 1917 russian revolution. The revolution led to a surge in iranian backed terrorism that continues, albeit in quite different forms, to this day. In mid february, there was an insurrection, with air force cadets joining with guerrilla forces. The shah, iran s ruler for nearly four decades, had fled the country. By roger cohen tehran, iran s capital, was in a state of revolt on jan. The 1979 islamic revolution in iran has proved one of the most consequential events in the history of modern terrorism. The newsmagazine for teens tehran, iran s capital, was in a state of revolt on jan. Reza shah, the elder pahlavi, came to power during the 1920s after promoting the idea of. Five frames for understanding the iranian revolution.
But the compulsory hijab a headscarf covering the hair and neck is not a symbol of iran s revolution. Iranian revolution the iranian revolution is considered the 3rd greatest revolution in history. In both revolutions workers and peasants brought down autocratic monarchies. In the iranian revolution of 1979, ayatollah sayyid ruhollah musavi khomeini ousted mohammad reza pahlavi, who succeeded his father as shah of iran in the early 1950s.
The iranian revolution of 197779 was the first in a series of mass popular civil insurrections which would result in the overthrow of authoritarian regimes in dozens of countries over the next three decades. The iranian revolution of february 1979 middle east. Summary of 1979 islamic revolution for dummies the iranian. The revolution and the iranian revolution 2172 words 9 pages. In simple terms, the regime of muhammad reza shah pahlavi was overthrown by a coalition of opposition forces dominated by shii muslim fundamentalists. January 1979 saw the ussupported shah forced to leave the country. The iranian revolution also known as the islamic revolution or the 1979 revolution, was a. Shapour bakhtiar as his new prime minister with the help of supreme army councils couldnt control the situation in the country anymore. The multiple contexts of the iranian revolution in. Pdf this paper intends to explore the role and key contributions that ayatollah ruhollah played in the iranian revolution. The iranian revolution opened a new chapter in the history of mass popular revolutions in the world. It changed that strategic relation of forces in the middle east to the detriment of imperialism.
The 1979 iranian revolution was a major landmark in iranian history. Before the iranian revolution of 1979 it is estimated that there were 150,000 jews living in the country. The rise and fall of the iranian revolution of 1979 nodo50. The true story behind the secret mission to save six americans during the iran hostage crisis and the foreign ambassador who worked with the cia to bring them home hardcover. From october of 1977 to february of 1979, the people of iran called for the end of the monarchy but they didnt necessarily agree on what should replace it. Reza shah, the elder pahlavi, came to power during the 1920s after promoting the idea of 2,500 years of persian monarchy mohammadi 38. Iranian foreign policy since the iranian islamic revolution. But below, i will explain to you what the ideology of our tremendous islamic. Nevertheless, for the iranian world the advent of islam meant not liberation but defeat and conquest by an alien people.
The role and contribution of ayatollah ruhollah khomeini. Today it is believed that less than 25,000 remain however far fewer jews practice openly as the iranian government recently released a survey stating that less than 10,000 jews remain in. The iranian revolution 19771979 download pdf version by stephen zunes april 2009. The bbc persian service and the islamic revolution of 1979. This concise but informative history chronicles how the iranian revolution of 1979 transformed iran from a monarchy to a fundamentalist islamic republic. The 21 and 22 of bahman 57 12 and february 1979 were the days of the collapse of the monarchic system when domestic tyranny, and the foreign dominance that relied on it, were. The islamic revolution occurred in 1979, in the muslim majority country of iran. Pdf this article is to explain the policies that have been undertaken by government of iran in foreign affairs since islamic revolution 1979 find, read and cite. The year that shaped the modern middle east new york.
Ayatollah ruhollah khomeini faction of the 19771979 revolution wanted to. Each special issue of viewpoints will combine the diverse commentaries of policymakers and. Background to the revolution shah reza pahlevi, returning to iran after a weeklong exile due to the failled mohamed mossadegh coup detat. Chapter 2 focuses on the social, political and economic status of iran, pre and post revolution. Its economy and the apparatus of government collapsed. Review of the 1979 irans revolution and the 2011 arab uprisings. To retain its legitimacy and religious standing, the clergy may have to distance itself from politics.
The rise and fall of the iranian revolution of 1979. Brief background information explains the underpinnings of the revolution and basic facts about islam, including the differences between shiite and sunni sects. On february 9th, 1979, million of iranians came on to the streets of teheran to welcome the return of the religious leader ayatollah. A repressive theocracy had replaced an authoritarian monarchy. Since 1979, iran s theocratic regime has deprived the entire clerical class of its autonomybut also made it rich and powerful. In 1991 they were merged with the conventional police in a new organisation known as the. If the inline pdf is not rendering correctly, you can download the pdf file here. Pdf the iranian revolution at 30 roschanack shaery. Thread the ideology of the iranian revolution has been called a complex combination of nationalism, political populism, and a return to the shia islamic way of life. Summary of 1979 islamic revolution for dummies by arthimis february 1, 2012 no comment. In some of its basic characteristics, the revolution did not conform to the usual norms of western revolutions, because the state did not represent just an ordinary dictatorship but an absolute and arbitrary system that lacked political legitimacy and a social base virtually across the whole of the society.
Many organizations, parties and guerrilla groups were involved in the iranian revolution. The consolidation of the iranian revolution refers to a turbulent process of islamic republic stabilization, following the completion of the revolution. During this era, iran experienced a harsh economic downturn, urban. Forty years ago, ayatollah ruhollah khomeini spearheaded a revolution that deposed a monarchy in iran. Religious elements of the 1979 islamic revolution amazon s3. The iranian revolution of 1979 was many years in the making. Iranian revolution islamic revolution 1979 revolution protesters in tehran, 1979 participants people of iran ayatollah ruhollah khomeini location iran date 1963 1979 result overthrow of shah mohammed reza pahlavi establishment of the islamic republic of iran headed by vilayate faqih iran iraq war the iranian revolution. So, hashemi rafsanjani applied pragmatic policy and attempted to combine. The iranian revolution and its legacy of terrorism lawfare. The bbc persian service and the islamic revolution of 1979 massoumeh torfeh and annabelle sreberny in the recent political crisis in iran that followed the contested presidential elections of 12 june, 2009, bbc persian television henceforth bbcptv that had started in.
The iranian revolution at 30 middle east institute. Iran islamic republic ofs constitution of 1979 with. The aim is to present an explanation of the factors that led to the iranian revolution in 1979. Islamic revolution in iran that would alter this country forever. After the shah of iran and his regime were overthrown by revolutionaries in february 1979, iran was in a revolutionary crisis mode from this time until 1982 or 1983. For these reasons, the following definition of a revolution will be used as the systematic and definitive definition for the remainder of the paper.
Ten days later bakhtiar went into hiding, eventually to find exile in paris. I am interested in the islamic form of the iranian revolution first as part of the. Iran s revolution began with a popular democracy movement and ended with the establishment of the world s first islamic state. The revolution of february 1979 was a revolt of the society against the state. Following the success of the revolution, the islamists instituted a theocratic dictatorship and wiped out the workers movement and the left. Yes, most working people and youth who made the 1979 revolution opposed the royal decree imposed in the 1930s by the imperialistbacked shah of iran, in. It was formed by order of ayatollah khomeini on february 4, 1979, while shapour. The iranian revolution there are various parties that have different viewpoints and opinions of the revolution. The iranian peoples revolution is only a point in the start of the revolution of the great world of islam. Pdf foreign policy of iran after islamic revolution researchgate. At the first signs of escalating unrest in early 1978, neither iranian nor u. Causes and consequences for regional stability leicester university dissertation. The iranian revolution put an end to the rule of the shah mohammed reza pahlevi, who had alienated powerful religious and political forces with a programme of modernisation and westernisation.
Iranian revolution, also called islamic revolution, persian enqelabe eslami, popular uprising in iran in 197879 that resulted in the toppling of the monarchy on february 11, 1979, and led to the establishment of an islamic republic. Although the bolsheviks influence had indirectly prepared the workers, the february revolution in both countries triumphed without the leadership of any individual or party. And the end goal of the revolution was never a state, it was the expansion of the revolution. After the triumph of the february revolution, mehdi bazargan, another national front leader who had merge nationalist and islamic sentiments. Any serious crisis in iran could jeopardize the clergys favored position in government. The iranian revolution of february 1979, by homa katouzian. The iranian revolution a history and analysis of the revolution in which socialists aligned themselves with islamists to overthrow the westbacked shah. Economic decline and revolutionary turmoil in the 1970s even though the peak of the revolution was in 1979, key preliminary events occurred throughout the mid 1970s. Religious elements of the 1979 islamic revolution september 30, 20 this case study investigates the social, economic, and political dynamics of 1970s iran that led the iranian people to accept, and then maintain, religion as the basis of a new political system after deposing mohammad reza shah pahlavi in 1979. He helped overthrow the much hated regime of the shah. The 1979 iranian revolution could be gainfully compared to the 1917 russian revolutions. Each special issue of viewpoints will combine the diverse commentaries of. Islamist revolutionaries opposed the western secular policies of the authoritarian shah of iran mohammed reza pahlavi supporters of ayatollah khomeini organized protests in opposition to the authoritarian government of the shah.