IRAN

Based on its geopolitical history, Iran can be compared with countries that experienced:

• Isolation & Suppremacy

  (USA, UK, China, Brazil, South Africa)

• Open borders & Invasion

  (France, Russia, Germany)

Answer explanation

Based on the geopolitical history of Iran we know that:

·      Iran was at the crossroads of different cultures

·     it has always been influenced by outside forces

·     has experienced Mongol invasion, Mughal invasion

·      Islam came as an outside factor from the Arabian Peninsula

never colonized, but 19^th cen·   tury it was no longer functioning as a sovereign state because of Russian and Western interference

Why did the Pahlavi Dynasty fall?

• Because of external pressures

• Because of unpopular decisions and alliances during WW1

• Because it gave extensive powers to the Ayatollahs

• Because it was an unpopular authoritarian regime that imposed forced Westernisation and thus, is seen as a Western Puppet

Answer explanation

o Safavid Dynasty falls because of external pressures during the 18th century

o   Qajar Dynasty falls because of WW1

·      Pahlavi Dynasty (1925 – 1979)

o   Relatively little known army general takes control and crowns himself as the new Shah after the fall of the Qajar Dynasty

o   Reza Shah Pahlavi

§  from the start, many Iranians see him as a Western puppet and the dynasty as an artificial Western creation to maintain control of Iran

§  similar to Ataturk starts a process of reform and (forced) Westernization

§  maintains a very centralized authoritarian rule

§  in WW2 sides with Hitler => in 1941 forced by the Allies to step down => his son takes over the throne

o   Mohammad Reza Pahlavi

§  last Shah to rule Iran

§  very lavish rule => seen as illegitimate

§  more and more authoritarian

§  had secret police – Savak

o   curious combination between authoritarianism and Westernization and modernization

o In 1979 the Shah is forced into exile as the result of the Islamic Revolution

What is Operation Ajax?

(a)  

The White Revolution is:

• comparable to the Russian "Snow Revolution"

• a reform program that extended women's rights and included very unpopular land reforms

• the reason why the Iranian Shah was forced to flee

• a massive celebration honouring 2500 years of Empire

Answer explanation

1963: White Revolution

§  another step in Westernization

§  forced program of modernization

§  more rights to women

§  very unpopular land reforms

=> open conflict with the Ayatollahs, led by Ayatollah Khomeini who is  exiled after the White Revolution

The Constitutional Revolution of 1906:

• led to the creation of the Majlis

• introduced the republican system

• is similar to the 1905 Revolution in Russia

• did not have many substantive effects

• completely changed the political system of Iran

Answer explanation

1906: Constitutional Revolution

o   similar to China, foreign interference during the 19th century led to an increase in nationalist sentiments => people started demanding more political rights

o   as a result, the first Parliament (the Majlis) is created

o   the Constitutional revolution is similar to 1905 Revolution in Russia: Parliament is created but powers remain in the hands of the Shah

The most important changes that happened under the Safavid Dynasty are:

• Shia Islam is adopted as the state religion

• the interference of British and Russian powers in the domestic affairs of Iran as a result of the discovery of oil

• forced Westernization

• the establishment of a form of clerical rule by the Ayatollahs

Answer explanation

Safavid Dynasty (1502 – 1736)

o   Shia Islam is adopted as the state religion

o   before it was unclear which branch of Islam was dominant

o   established a form of clerical rule by the Ayatollahs (religious leaders with important political functions)

Ayatollahs = seen as representatives of Allah

o   in 18^th century it comes under external pressures

Iran is a country with a long history of Empire. Which country can we compare it with based on that?

(a)  

Answer explanation

Like China, Iran has a history of more than 2000 years of Empire:

·      First Persian Empire (550 – 330 BC)

·      Safavid Dynasty (1502 – 1736)

·      Qajar Dynasty (1794 – 1925)

·      Pahlavi Dynasty (1925 – 1979)

In 1971, the Shah celebrated 2500 years of Persian Empire

Why was the 1971 celebration of 2500 of Persian Empire so unpopular?

• it cost a lot of money

• it was seen as a heretic celebration by many Shia Muslims

• it was a sign of forced Westernization

• it went against the wishes of the Ayatollahs

Answer explanation

The Persian empire was not Islamic => the lavish celebration of the Persian Empire was seen as heretic by many Shia muslims

The Islamic Revolution (1979)

• is seen as a critical juncture moment

• resulted in the fall of the Shah's regime and its replacement with an interim government

• immediately led to the establishment of the Islamic Republic

• included the Islamic Republic Referendum which approved the use of Sharia Law as the main basis for the constitution

• only included the clergy as members of the opposition to the Shah's Regime

• w

Answer explanation

The Islamic Revolution (1979)

o   started as a month of demonstrations coordinated by clergy

o   16 January: Shah flees Iran and is replaced by interim government

o   1 February: Ayatollah Khomeini returns to Iran

o   opposition to the Shah did not only include clergy, but also communists, liberal secularists

o   Khomeini plays all factions against each other until they lose legitimacy

o   13^th of March: Islamic Republic Referendum (with Sharia Law as main basis for constitution)

=> over 90% voted Yes

o   immediately after revolution, Iranian students occupied American Embassy and held diplomats hostage for 444 days

 

What is the most important difference between Shia and Sunni Islam?

Answer explanation

Shia vs. Sunni Islam

·      Succession of Prophet Mohammad

o   Sunni: any person with high religious authority can become the successor of the Prophet

o   Shia: the successor needs to be somebody from his bloodline

§  The 12 Imams after Mohammad that have been legitimate successros

o   historically very many battles between sunni and shia

§  Imam Hussein – the third successor of Mohammad, is defeated by a great Sunni force near the Iraqi city of Karbala => Ashura, Shia Holiday commemorating the battle

§  the 12^th Imam (the Mahdi) went into hiding (he was removed by God from Earth)

BUT

§  he will return to create a just world => Apocalypse

·      Shia has always been more centralized and hierarchical than Sunni Islam

=> very easy for Ayatollahs to be involved in political rule