A brief overview of the Iranian Revolution Politics in Iran A brief overview of the Iranian Revolution

Iran Basics Population Language(s) Religion: Shi’ism Persian, Azeri (Turkic), Kurdish, etc Language(s) Persian, etc Religion: Shi’ism

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Iran prior to Revolution Authoritarian monarchy Harsh police rule, systematic torture Forced “westernization” Devaluation of the Ulama & Islam US aid & oil revenue patronage The “White Revolution” Large-scale industrial development, literacy, education, land reform Muhammad Reza Shah Pahlavi

1979 Iranian Revolution: Why Rising popular opposition Authoritarianism Economic woes Urban middle class suffering Shah’s reliance on foreign experts Cracks in the regime US & NGO pressure Moderate reforms Crises Economic recession protest & suppression “The Shah had a lot of sympathy for the poor.” Cartoon by Iraj Zare; re-printed in Hassan Javadi's Satire in Persian Literature.

Iranian Revolution: Who A. Khomeini Moderate, politicized Ulama Radical Ulama Bazaari merchants Theological students Urban workers Secular students Secular Urban Intellectuals Oil workers on strike, 1978.

Post-revolution: competing visions 1st (early Revolution) Vision Moderate Constitutional Monarchy 2nd Vision Secular Republic -- respecting but not controlled by Shi’ism 3rd Vision: Theocracy-government of Ulama From Marjane Satrapi, Persopolis

1979 Iranian Revolution: How Early days of protest & suppression pamphlets,cassettes demonstrations Violent suppression & continued resistance Growing confrontation Sept 8 1978 “Black Friday” in Tehran: wave of protests and violent suppression Strikes, paralysis of Iranian economy, huge demonstrations, defections in the army Jan. 1979 M. Reza Shah flees the country Feb. 1: A. Khomeini returns to Iran Ayatollah Khomeini escorted by military officers upon his return to Iran. Photo from: http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/nsa/publications/iran/irbroch.html

After the revolution New Islamic republic (03/1979) Foreign crises But what was an “Islamic Republic?” Foreign crises U.S. hostage crisis Nov. 1979 Iran-Iraq War,’80-’89 260,000 Iranians dead Internal resistance & purges 1981-82- internal conflict and suppression: 10,000 Iranians die Photo: http://www.iranian.com

The new theocracy: changes & reforms The new state: democracy & theocracy Islamicization of law & governance Economy: state control, privatization 1988 and after: liberalization package new privatization, reduction of govt subsidies, promotion of exports oil still provides 40-50% of government income New Sharia-based legal code increasingly challenged in late 1980s Cultural revolution Social reforms “Reconstruction Jihad”: Improved rural conditions Improved education and public health Rise in female literacy: 36% in 1976; 72% in 1996 Grassroots primary health care Better family planning: drastic reduction in birthrate after 1988

One view of the Cultural Revolution From Marjane Satrapi, Persopolis