Iran Iran Political and Economic Political and Economic

ChangeChange

Matthew DavidMatthew David

Pivotal ConceptsPivotal Concepts

Domestic stabilityDomestic stability Foreign invasion/interventionForeign invasion/intervention LiberalizationLiberalization Types of government vs. outcomesTypes of government vs. outcomes Measures of successful governanceMeasures of successful governance

1906 Constitution (1906)1906 Constitution (1906)

Persians were deeply dissatisfied with Persians were deeply dissatisfied with Qajari rule and foreign intervention.Qajari rule and foreign intervention.

They demanded the protections and They demanded the protections and stability of a constitution.stability of a constitution.

Mozafar o-Din Shah reluctantly agreed Mozafar o-Din Shah reluctantly agreed to the formation of a Majlis that would to the formation of a Majlis that would be empowered to draft a constitution.be empowered to draft a constitution.

The First Term of the Majlis ratified The First Term of the Majlis ratified the constitution.the constitution.

1921 Coup – Causes (1921-1921 Coup – Causes (1921-1925)1925)

Foreign occupation – Russia, U.KForeign occupation – Russia, U.K Russian Revolution – Russian withdrawal Russian Revolution – Russian withdrawal Qajari leadership was ineffective, corrupt, Qajari leadership was ineffective, corrupt,

and weak.and weak. Foreign and domestic interests interfered Foreign and domestic interests interfered

with the function of the Majlis.with the function of the Majlis. Reza Khan, an officer, assumes control of Reza Khan, an officer, assumes control of

the Persian Cossack Brigade.the Persian Cossack Brigade.

1921 Coup – Effects (1925)1921 Coup – Effects (1925)

Ahmad Shah, the final Qajari ruler, is Ahmad Shah, the final Qajari ruler, is removed by Reza Khan’s forces.removed by Reza Khan’s forces.

Reza Khan is designated Reza Shah Reza Khan is designated Reza Shah Pahlavi, first ruler of the Pahlavi Pahlavi, first ruler of the Pahlavi dynasty.dynasty.

The Majlis is marginalized to a The Majlis is marginalized to a rubber-stamp capacity in a new, rubber-stamp capacity in a new, authoritarian regime.authoritarian regime.

Reza Shah Pahlavi’s Rule Reza Shah Pahlavi’s Rule (1925-1941)(1925-1941)

Parallel modernization and deliberalization.Parallel modernization and deliberalization.– Shari’a courts are replaced with secular ones.Shari’a courts are replaced with secular ones.– Secular, public education (University of Iran)Secular, public education (University of Iran)– Infrastructure is built (Trans-Iranian Railway)Infrastructure is built (Trans-Iranian Railway)– Productive capacity for oil was increasedProductive capacity for oil was increased– Press was extremely limitedPress was extremely limited– Citizen groups (unions and political parties) are Citizen groups (unions and political parties) are

prohibited.prohibited.

Pahlavi Succession (1941)Pahlavi Succession (1941)

Reza Shah Pahlavi wished to maintain Reza Shah Pahlavi wished to maintain commercial ties with Germany.commercial ties with Germany.

Iran appreciated Germany’s lack of Iran appreciated Germany’s lack of imperial activity in Iran.imperial activity in Iran.

The Allies feared German control of The Allies feared German control of Iranian oil and obstruction of the Iranian oil and obstruction of the Persian Corridor supply route.Persian Corridor supply route.

Anglo-Soviet forces invaded Iran.Anglo-Soviet forces invaded Iran.

Pahlavi Succession (cont.) Pahlavi Succession (cont.) (1941)(1941)

Invasion force secures supply routes and oil Invasion force secures supply routes and oil fields.fields.

Britain has a personal distaste for the Shah, Britain has a personal distaste for the Shah, as a result, it insists that Reza Shah Pahlavi as a result, it insists that Reza Shah Pahlavi abdicate his rule; he is exiled to South Africa.abdicate his rule; he is exiled to South Africa.

His son, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, assumes His son, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, assumes the throne of Shah.the throne of Shah.

Iran suffers great economic and humanitarian Iran suffers great economic and humanitarian costs under Allied occupation.costs under Allied occupation.

Post-War Pahlavi Rule (1941-Post-War Pahlavi Rule (1941-1949)1949)

Mohammad Reza Pahlavi lacked the Mohammad Reza Pahlavi lacked the totalitarian capability of his father. totalitarian capability of his father.

This control deficit allowed the This control deficit allowed the political environment to liberalize.political environment to liberalize.

Political parties and trade unions Political parties and trade unions formed. They ranged from theocrats to formed. They ranged from theocrats to communists.communists.

Mohammad Mossadegh led the Mohammad Mossadegh led the National Front, a broadly popular National Front, a broadly popular opposition party.opposition party.

Rise of Mossadegh (1949-Rise of Mossadegh (1949-1951)1951)

The British oil concession provided Iran The British oil concession provided Iran with limited revenue.with limited revenue.

Faced with the popularity of Mossadegh, Faced with the popularity of Mossadegh, the Shah allowed him to become prime the Shah allowed him to become prime minister.minister.

The Majlis nationalized Iran’s oil industry.The Majlis nationalized Iran’s oil industry. Britain responded with an embargo on Britain responded with an embargo on

Iranian oil; oil revenues were Iranian oil; oil revenues were eviscerated.eviscerated.

1953 Coup d'état (1953)1953 Coup d'état (1953)

Desperate to reinstate control over Desperate to reinstate control over Iran’s oil, the British government Iran’s oil, the British government enlisted the assistance of the C.I.A. to enlisted the assistance of the C.I.A. to oust Mossadegh.oust Mossadegh.

The British government noted the rise The British government noted the rise of the pro-communism Tudeh party.of the pro-communism Tudeh party.

The administration of Eisenhower, The administration of Eisenhower, committed to containing communism, committed to containing communism, was receptive to the British request.was receptive to the British request.

1953 Coup d'état (cont.)1953 Coup d'état (cont.)

The CIA and MI6 began a propaganda The CIA and MI6 began a propaganda campaign to build popular support for campaign to build popular support for Mossadegh’s ouster.Mossadegh’s ouster.

The initial attempt of the coup failed; the The initial attempt of the coup failed; the Shah was forced to flee Iran.Shah was forced to flee Iran.

The Anglo-American forces initiated a The Anglo-American forces initiated a second phase, manifest in demonstrations second phase, manifest in demonstrations demanding the Shah’s return.demanding the Shah’s return.

Mossadegh’s government fell, and the Mossadegh’s government fell, and the Shah reassumed his throne.Shah reassumed his throne.

Post-coup Pahlavi Rule (1953-Post-coup Pahlavi Rule (1953-1979)1979)

Rule was bolstered by Western support.Rule was bolstered by Western support. Extensive military investmentExtensive military investment Foreign policy outreachForeign policy outreach Shah limited civil liberties to prevent Shah limited civil liberties to prevent

future uprisings – SAVAK secret police.future uprisings – SAVAK secret police. Land reform redistributed arable land Land reform redistributed arable land

to small-scale farmers in exchange for to small-scale farmers in exchange for stakes in Iranian industry. Profits from stakes in Iranian industry. Profits from agriculture were distributed within land agriculture were distributed within land collectives.collectives.

White Revolution (1960s)White Revolution (1960s) Intensified redistribution of landIntensified redistribution of land Public health and literacy initiativesPublic health and literacy initiatives Expansion of secular courts and educationExpansion of secular courts and education Increased education, economic opportunity, Increased education, economic opportunity,

and political influence (enfranchisement) for and political influence (enfranchisement) for women.women.

Degradation of clerical wealth and influenceDegradation of clerical wealth and influence Collective farms lacked infrastructure and Collective farms lacked infrastructure and

central support.central support. Urbanization outpaced public services and Urbanization outpaced public services and

economic capacity.economic capacity.

Iranian Revolution – Causes Iranian Revolution – Causes (1970s)(1970s)

Shah’s oppressive ruleShah’s oppressive rule Policies that conflicted with IslamismPolicies that conflicted with Islamism Western support for the ShahWestern support for the Shah

Iranian Revolution – Iranian Revolution – ParticipantsParticipants

While the Shah was in power, the While the Shah was in power, the opposition groups united with religious opposition groups united with religious leaders in support of Ayatollah leaders in support of Ayatollah Khomeini.Khomeini.

Opponents of the Shah:Opponents of the Shah:– YouthYouth– UrbanitesUrbanites– Unemployed workersUnemployed workers– MigrantsMigrants

Iranian Revolution – Events Iranian Revolution – Events (1978-1979)(1978-1979)

Protests would occur in cycles: young people Protests would occur in cycles: young people would demonstrate against the Shah, they would would demonstrate against the Shah, they would be killed, and another group would protest the be killed, and another group would protest the Shah’s brutality and honor the previous one’s Shah’s brutality and honor the previous one’s martyrdom.martyrdom.

In early 1979, faced with the imminent threat of In early 1979, faced with the imminent threat of the revolutionaries, the Shah departed Iran.the revolutionaries, the Shah departed Iran.

His appointed successors, the Regency Council, His appointed successors, the Regency Council, could not govern Iran.could not govern Iran.

Ayatollah Khomeini returned to mass public Ayatollah Khomeini returned to mass public support. support.

Iranians voted to establish an Islamic Republic Iranians voted to establish an Islamic Republic under the rule of Khomeini.under the rule of Khomeini.

Iranian Revolution – Effects Iranian Revolution – Effects (1979)(1979)

Iran became an Islamic Republic (Theocracy).Iran became an Islamic Republic (Theocracy). The conservative members of the The conservative members of the

revolutionary coalition marginalized the revolutionary coalition marginalized the other members.other members.

Political leaders and laws were changed to reflect Political leaders and laws were changed to reflect strict adherence to Islamism.strict adherence to Islamism.

Revolutionary Guards eliminated opposition and Revolutionary Guards eliminated opposition and secured the new regime against Western secured the new regime against Western intervention (Cultural Revolution).intervention (Cultural Revolution).

Ties with and practices of the West were Ties with and practices of the West were eliminated from Iran.eliminated from Iran.

Students, inspired by revolutionary fervor, took Students, inspired by revolutionary fervor, took hostages at the United States’ embassy in Tehran. hostages at the United States’ embassy in Tehran.

Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988)Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988)

Saddam Hussein, the Sunni leader of Iraq, Saddam Hussein, the Sunni leader of Iraq, wished to destabilize the new Shia regime wished to destabilize the new Shia regime in Iran.in Iran.

Iran wished to eliminate Hussein and Iran wished to eliminate Hussein and liberate Iraq’s Shia population.liberate Iraq’s Shia population.

Iraq’s forces moved to capture the Shatt Iraq’s forces moved to capture the Shatt al-Arab waterway; Iran later retook the al-Arab waterway; Iran later retook the territory.territory.

The enormously costly war ended in a The enormously costly war ended in a stalemate.stalemate.

1989 Constitutional 1989 Constitutional Referendum (1989)Referendum (1989)

As Ayatollah Khomeini neared death, Iran As Ayatollah Khomeini neared death, Iran considered the future of its constitution.considered the future of its constitution.

After consideration within Iran’s After consideration within Iran’s leadership, a constitutional referendum leadership, a constitutional referendum was proposed by the Majlis.was proposed by the Majlis.

A majority of voters approved the A majority of voters approved the amendments.amendments.

The new constitution eliminated the prime The new constitution eliminated the prime minister, defined the process of succession minister, defined the process of succession for the Supreme Leader, and clarified the for the Supreme Leader, and clarified the authority of the Expediency Council.authority of the Expediency Council.

Post-Referendum Leadership Post-Referendum Leadership (1989-Present)(1989-Present)

While the religious leadership has While the religious leadership has been conservative, Iranian presidents been conservative, Iranian presidents have varied in ideology.have varied in ideology.

Of the most recent three presidents, Of the most recent three presidents, one has been a reformer (Khatami), one has been a reformer (Khatami), one a conservative (Ahmadinejad), one a conservative (Ahmadinejad), and one a moderate (Rouhani).and one a moderate (Rouhani).

Varying amounts and successes of Varying amounts and successes of privatization.privatization.

Foreign RelationsForeign Relations

Iran developed an adversarial Iran developed an adversarial relationship with its former allies in relationship with its former allies in the West.the West.

The government has funded Shia The government has funded Shia extremists across the Middle East.extremists across the Middle East.

Opposition to Israel is a cornerstone of Opposition to Israel is a cornerstone of Iranian foreign policy.Iranian foreign policy.

A nuclear program has been the A nuclear program has been the source of considerable tension and source of considerable tension and sanctions from the West.sanctions from the West.

Comparison to U.S. Political Comparison to U.S. Political ChangeChange

Iranian revolutionary fervor can be compared Iranian revolutionary fervor can be compared to conservative backlash in the U.S. to conservative backlash in the U.S.

Three essential elements:Three essential elements:– Social issues infuriate the public (Departure from Social issues infuriate the public (Departure from

Islam & CRM)Islam & CRM)– Undesirable changes are attributed to a broader Undesirable changes are attributed to a broader

ill (Foreign intervention & social upheaval/moral ill (Foreign intervention & social upheaval/moral decay)decay)

– Response that exceeds the scope of the identified Response that exceeds the scope of the identified problem (Authoritarian government & economic problem (Authoritarian government & economic reform)reform)

ActivityActivity

Draw a conclusion about Iran’s Draw a conclusion about Iran’s condition resulting from one of four condition resulting from one of four scenarios.scenarios.

Activity – ScenariosActivity – Scenarios

1.1. Iran under Mohammad Reza PahlaviIran under Mohammad Reza Pahlavi

2.2. Mossadegh not ousted by coup Mossadegh not ousted by coup d'état d'état

3.3. Iran led by non-Islamist Iran led by non-Islamist revolutionariesrevolutionaries

4.4. Modern IranModern Iran