MUNSA! Eduardo, what do you think?

Fill my boards!

Jihad walking!

Iranian History until the 1979 Revolution

Iranian Historic Political Culture Historic mixture of political and religious authority (with some exceptions) Shiism vs Sunni (90% Shia) Sharia Law Imam—Religious leaders in Shiism Escaped from colonialism, but still didn’t industrialize early (why not?)

Iranian Political Influences Late discovery of oil (first well in 1908) Geographic Limitations—Arid, mountainous Most of the population lives in most arable northwest Persian, not Arab Different language Leads to nationalism Iranian 1st, Muslim 2nd

The Pahlavi Shahs (1925-1979) Came into power by coup d’etat Chaos and weak majiles before them Authoritarian Muhammed Reza Shah takes over in 1941 Communist PM Mosadeq in 1953, forced shah to leave the country U.S. supported dictatorial shah (Cold War), had him reinstated

Economics under the Shah Iran became a rentier state—Govt. receives rent by leasing land to foreign companies Makes so much money, they don’t have to collect taxes “Govt. doesn’t need the people any more.” Shah enacted “import substitution industrialization” High tariffs on imports Didn’t work, oil became 97% of Iran’s GNP

The White Revolution—1960’s Counter “red” reforms Land reform—Sell small farms, but encourage them to use modern technology Extreme secularization Voting rights for women Women allowed to work, even in the military

Problems with the White Revolution Too totalitarian Too secular Upset balance between theocracy vs. secularization Too tied to the West (offended nationalism and clergy)

More problems Pahlavi Foundation—Organization that controlled major companies. Profits went straight to the shah Patronage—Gave people positions in Pahlavi Foundation based on support Drop in oil prices leads to strikes and protests

The Revolution of 1979 Students start protesting in huge numbers against the shah, then others People wanted a return to Islamic Fundamentalism—Strict Islamic law Ayatollah Khomeini

Scribe and Messenger!

Review! Of all the historical and political influences in Iranian history, which do you think has had the greatest influence on modern day Iran? Why did the United States support the authoritarian rule of the Pahlavi shahs? How did the White Revolution upset the balance in Iranian society? What is patronage, and how did the shah’s patronage system further upset Iranians? What do you think was the most important factor that led to the Ayatollah’s rise to power in Iran?

Charades! Iran China Houku Nomenklatura Standing Committee Guanxi Patronage Shia Islam Rentier State Patronage System Import Substitution Sharia Law White Revolution Ayatollah Khomenei Secularization Pahlavi Shah Imperialism Houku Nomenklatura Standing Committee Guanxi Special Economic Zones Tibetans Uighurs Tiananmen Square Massacre