Suzanne maloney, editor of the new brookings press volume the iranian revolution at forty, discusses the enduring significance of the 1979 iranian revolution with brookings press director bill. Embassy in tehran, taking more than 60 american hostages. In 197879, in the course of a massive urban revolution with several million participants, the iranian people toppled the government of mohammad reza shah pahlavi r. Michel foucault and the culture of the iranian revolution, 19781979 janet afary. The iranian revolution, past, present and future iran chamber. The iranian revolution of 19781979 violently e nded the monarchy of shah mohammed reza pahlavi 19191980 and replaced it with an islamic republic, the theocracy of ayatollah ruhollah. Background is given about the political history of iran, the shahs policies, and the causes of the revolution. The emerging secutity paradigm in the middle east, parameters, summer 2007, p. The iranian revolution and ensuing events of that year set up islamism as an ideology to be reckoned with, sweeping up billions around the world along with capitalism and communism. This dissertation will analyze and contend that the islamic republic of iran after the 1979 revolution can provide stability in the gulf region. Modern iranian visual culture, grey art gallery, new york, september 18december 7, 2002. Shockingly, i was first introduced to iran in the dc comics batman series, a death in the family, in 1988.
When i was designing this unit, i thought back on when i first learned about iran. Dissatisfaction with shahs government and his handling. Iran is an important test case firstly because until the revolution, iran was one of three key prowestern strongholds in the middle east necessary for suppressing local worker demands and keeping oil production cheap the others being israel and saudi arabia. The iranian revolution 1979 by louise zhang on prezi. The year that shaped the modern middle east new york. Pdf two promostazafin discourses in the 1979 iranian. The story of a childhood by marjane satrapi, the septembers. 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. How 1979 transformed the regional balance of power, itamar rabinovich 15. The newsmagazine for teens tehran, irans capital, was in a state of revolt on jan. Shahs weak leadership, a military incapable of acting coherently.
Prior to the iranian revolution of 1979, many iranian students and other citizens resided in the united states, and had a positive and welcoming attitude towards america and americans. The iranian revolution of february 1979 middle east. And the end goal of the revolution was never a state, it was the expansion of the revolution. Irans islamic revolution after the overthrow of the shah, an american ally became one of its biggest adversaries. Chapter 1 the historical background chapter 2 notes on the history of iran chapter 3 the communist party of iran chapter 4 the february revolution of 1979 chapter 5 the basis of islamic fundamentalism chapter 6 the economics of counterrevolution. The revolution led to a surge in iranian backed terrorism that continues, albeit in quite different forms, to this day. Chapter 2 focuses on the social, political and economic status of iran, pre and post revolution, and highlights the contrasts between the two. The organs of the iranian state serve the revolution, not the other way around. The aim is to present an explanation of the factors that led to the iranian revolution in 1979.
Nov 25, 2019 heres a brief history of the iranian revolution of 1979, in which islamic clerics overthrew shah pahlavi and established the islamic republic of iran. The 1979 iranian revolution revolution is the culmination of popular discontent brewing for a certain amount of time. The safavid dynasty ruled iran until 1722, when an afghan army invaded the country and captured isfahan. So we will look at what happened during the iranian revolution of 19781979. Mar 10, 2015 iranian revolution the iranian revolution is considered the 3rd greatest revolution in history. This is a one page summary of circumstances surrounding the iranian revolution of 1979. Background to the revolution shah reza pahlevi, returning to iran after a weeklong exile due to the failled mohamed mossadegh coup detat. Brief background information explains the underpinnings of the revolution and basic facts about islam, including the differences between shiite and sunni sects. Many single years are filled with insignificant people and events. The complete persepolis by marjane satrapi, persepolis. It took place after irans islamic revolution in 197879 and poisoned u. This western influence led to antiamerican sentiment in iran. The iranian revolution 19771979 international center on. By the 1970s, the iranian people had tired of living under an oppressive regime, which offered little to the citizens.
The revolution led to a surge in iranianbacked terrorism that continues, albeit in quite different forms, to this day. Sep 07, 2006 so we will look at what happened during the iranian revolution of 1978 1979. However, its important to remember that the iranian revolution itself was more than a religious uprising. If the 1979 nicaraguan revolution and sandinista regime were of limited consequence for world politics in the grand scheme of things, the iranian revolution and islamic republic. A number of studies have examined the role of the economically marginalized classes in the 1979 iranian revolution and the events which transpired in its immediate aftermath. He helped overthrow the much hated regime of the shah. The iranian revolution and its legacy of terrorism lawfare. Forty years ago, ayatollah ruhollah khomeini spearheaded a revolution that deposed a monarchy in iran.
Iran islamic republic ofs constitution of 1979 with. The specific case of the iranian american immigrant cannot be understood without background knowledge of the events that transpired before, during and after the 1979 revolution. On february 9th, 1979, million of iranians came on to the streets of teheran to welcome the return of the religious leader ayatollah. Reza shah, the elder pahlavi, came to power during the 1920s after promoting the idea of 2,500 years of persian monarchy mohammadi 38. The iranian revolutions legacy of terrorism, daniel byman 16. People may grow dissatisfied with sharp social contrasts, inequality, segregation, discrimination, and other blatant violations of their rights. This concise but informative history chronicles how the iranian revolution of 1979 transformed iran from a monarchy to a fundamentalist islamic republic. The iranian revolution of 1979 was many years in the making. A history and analysis of the revolution in which socialists aligned themselves with islamists to overthrow the westbacked.
Following the success of the revolution, the islamists instituted a theocratic dictatorship and wiped out the workers movement and the left. The iranian revolution 1977 1979 download pdf version by stephen zunes april 2009. It marked the latest chapter in a decadeslong battle between the u. The shah fled into exile in january 1979 and exiled cleric ayatollah. The 1979 revolution, which brought together iranians across many different social groups, has its roots in iran s long history. The shah, irans ruler for nearly four decades, had fled the country. In november 1979 students stormed that american embassy in tehran in protest at america allowing the shah into the country for medical treatment. The 1979 iranian revolution appears an aberration from previous revolutions and revolts in iranian history due to the circumstances leading to the revolution and its aftermath. Mar 25, 2020 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. In 1963, the shah launched his white revolution, a broad government program that included land reform, infrastructure development, voting rights for women, and the reduction of illiteracy. Analyze why many iranian were dissatisfied with the government of shah mohammad reza pahlavi. Causes and consequences for regional stability leicester university dissertation. 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. Prior to this event, the united states had excessive power over the iranian government.
Mar 27, 2020 suzanne maloney, editor of the new brookings press volume the iranian revolution at forty, discusses the enduring significance of the 1979 iranian revolution with brookings press director bill. Reza shah, the elder pahlavi, came to power during the 1920s after promoting the idea of. The 1979 revolution was a characteristically iranian revolution a revolution by the whole society against the state in which various ideologies were represented, the most dominant being those with islamic tendencies islamist, marxistislamic and democraticislamic and marxistleninist tendencies fadai, tudeh, maoist, trotskyist, and. The 1979 iranian revolution council on foreign relations. Panelists reflect on the events that unfolded during the iranian revolution in 1979, how the united states responded, and the consequences for today. Explain why irans revolution came as a shock to the u. The 1979 islamic revolution in iran has proved one of the most consequential events in the history of modern terrorism. Khomeinis theory of islamic state and the making of the. The iranian revolution of february 1979 middle east institute. After attending graduate school, she plans on pursuing a career in public education. The iranian revolution of 1979 has been described as one of the epochal. That battle began 35 years ago with irans revolution in 1979. In simple terms, the regime of muhammad reza shah pahlavi was overthrown by a coalition of opposition forces dominated by shii muslim fundamentalists. His message was distributed through music cassettes, which were smuggled into iran in small numbers, and then duplicated, and spread all around the country.
Causes of the revolution discontent with the pahlavi rule exile of ayatollah khomeini social injustices violations against the iranian constitution of 1906 the city of tabriz. These groups, which included clergy, landowners, intellectuals, and merchants, had previously come together in the constitutional revolution of 190511. By looking at the historical, domestic, international, and socioeconomic factors related to the revolution, this case study examines the turbulent context of iranian society in the 1970s and the crucial role that religion played in shaping modern iran. The iranian revolution a history and analysis of the revolution in which socialists aligned themselves with islamists to overthrow the westbacked shah. From this perspective, 1979, rather than 1989, was the real turning pointthe historical pivot to which all contemporary developments could be traced. It is the story of two villains making life difficult. 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. In the 1970s, approximately 25,000 american technicians were deployed to iran in. Irans islamic revolution after the overthrow of the shah, an american ally became one of its biggest. The islamic revolution of 1979 took place in a nonarab country with a rich historical heritage. 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.
Heres a brief history of the iranian revolution of 1979, in which islamic clerics overthrew shah pahlavi and established the islamic republic of iran. Islamic revolution simple english wikipedia, the free. Aug 16, 2015 the aim is to present an explanation of the factors that led to the iranian revolution in 1979. The iranian revolution narrative is typically presented to the public and students as a revolution led by islamic radicals to overthrow the evil shah. 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. Summary of 1979 islamic revolution for dummies the iranian. The 1979 iranian revolutions enduring impact on the world. Sep 18, 2006 this is a clip from a documentary titled crisis in iran by the history channel with mike wallace. Brief background information explains the underpinnings of the revolution and basic facts about islam. Iran hostage crisis, international crisis 197981 in which militants seized 66 americans at the u. Pdf this paper intends to explore the role and key contributions that ayatollah. Pdf this paper intends to explore the role and key contributions that ayatollah ruhollah played in the iranian revolution. After the overthrow of the shah, an american ally became one of its biggest adversaries. The iranian revolution past, present and future content.
Access article in pdf pictures from a revolution the 1979 iranian uprising babak ebrahimian figures between word and image. The rise and fall of the iranian revolution of 1979 nodo50. At the first signs of escalating unrest in early 1978, neither iranian nor u. The downfall of americaniranian relations in the broad scope of history, one year is merely a vapor. Celebrating its 35th anniversary, irans islamic revolution shocked the world and redrew the map of global alliances. Religion and diplomacy emma dambek emma dambek is a junior history major from decorah, iowa. Answer the following questions as you read the article.
The revolution of february 1979 was a revolt of the society against the state. Ruhollah khomeini returned from exile to lead the new islamic republic. A repressive theocracy had replaced an authoritarian monarchy. Usiran relations, 19531979 before the iranian revolution, the u. 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. On november 4, 1979, a group of iranian students stormed the u. Would be great for world, us, or mid east history courses. 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. The most notable iranian revolution occurred due to the paralysed and corrupt mohammad reza shah pahlavi regime that violently imposed cultural colonialism on the iranian people through clerical establishment, and he was the leader of iran before the 1979 iranian revolution hinkson 201.