L10 - Ch06 - The Iranian Revolution Flashcards
How was religion involved in the Iranian Revolution compared to other revolutions?
In the Iranian Revolution, religion was the defining issue, dominating the regime that emerged, unlike other revolutions where religion was often a victim of revolutionary policies.
What challenges did the Iranian Revolution face regarding modernization?
The revolution struggled to balance rapid economic, social, and cultural modernization while maintaining an authoritarian political system.
What role does Islamic fundamentalism play in Iran today?
Islamic fundamentalism continues to be a paramount force in Iranian life, more than two decades after the revolution.
How did the Cold War impact the Iranian Revolution?
The contest between the Soviet Union and the United States heavily shaped Iranian politics from the 1940s onward, with the U.S. inadvertently contributing to the revolution.
How did different Iranian social groups respond to modernization?
Many Iranians welcomed urbanization and economic changes, but the Islamic clergy and bazaaris resisted, wanting to preserve the traditional way of life.
What utopian aspirations did the Iranian Revolution have?
It aspired to create a seamless system of politics, economics, and culture to preserve and revive traditional values rather than introduce innovative changes.
What questions does the Iranian Revolution raise about its historical significance?
It raises questions about whether it follows the tradition of revolutions like the French and Russian or is a unique product of twentieth-century forces and a harbinger of Islamic fundamentalist revolutions.
What continues to drive dynamic pressures within the Iranian Revolution?
The poor’s desire to address social and economic issues and a strong interest in democratic and representative governance informed by, but not dominated by, religious teachings.
Who were the key players in Persia’s Constitutional Revolution?
A coalition of constitutional monarchists, merchants, guild members, the ulama, and theology students.
What caused Persia’s Constitutional Revolution in 1906?
Nationalist reactions to British and Russian influence, economic disruptions from the global economy, and interest in modern political ideas like parliaments and democratic elections.
How did external events influence the Constitutional Revolution?
The Russian Revolution of 1905 acted as a catalyst, prompting nationalists and clerics to protest against government policies.
What was the outcome of the protests in 1906?
The shah agreed to form a National Consultative Majles (parliament) and ratified a constitution that curtailed his power and limited foreign influence.
How did the first majles’ composition influence its actions?
The large representation of guilds and urban centers like Tabriz and Tehran made it more radical than if universal suffrage had been applied.
What were the limitations of the 1906 electoral laws?
The franchise was restricted to men meeting property, language, and occupational requirements, excluding women and many others.
What challenges did the Constitutional Revolution face?
The shah, backed by conservative clerics and landowners, opposed the majles, leading to compromises favoring conservatives and ultimately disbandment of the majles in 1911.
How did the Pahlavi dynasty come to power?
Reza Khan, using the Cossack Brigade, staged a coup in 1921, expanded the army, and convinced parliament to depose the Qajar dynasty in 1925.
What modernization efforts did Reza Shah Pahlavi implement?
He reduced Shi’i clergy’s power, carried out economic reforms, promoted nationalism, and maintained popularity through a patronage system and strong police and army bases.
How did Reza Shah Pahlavi manage Iran’s identity?
He renamed Persia to Iran in 1934, reflecting a nationalist identity as the “land of the Aryans.”
What role did foreign powers play in Reza Shah’s rise?
British concerns about communism’s spread after the Bolshevik Revolution led them to support Reza Khan’s consolidation of power.
What challenges did Mohammad Reza Shah face early in his reign?
He lacked the charisma and strength of his father and became dependent on American support during the Cold War.
What legacy did the Pahlavi dynasty leave regarding Iran’s governance?
Reza Shah’s focus on modernization and centralization set the stage for his son’s reign and eventual opposition from both secular and religious groups.
What led to Reza Shah’s abdication?
He abdicated in favor of his son, Mohammad Reza, under pressure from Britain and the Soviet Union.
Why did Britain and the Soviet Union occupy Iran in 1941?
They no longer trusted Reza Shah after the German invasion of the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union occupied northern Iran, and Britain moved into the south.
Who was Mohammad Mosaddeq, and what were his significant actions?
He was the head of the National Front and became prime minister in 1951. He nationalized the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company and implemented a reform program.
What was the role of the United States and Britain in the 1953 coup?
They organized a coup to restore the shah to full power, with Kermit Roosevelt leading the American effort.
What were the consequences of the 1953 coup in Iran?
The shah became more powerful, and the United States replaced Britain as the dominant foreign influence.
What was SAVAK?
SAVAK was the Organization of National Security and Intelligence, a secret police agency known for using torture, created in 1957 with American support.
What was the White Revolution?
It was a series of reforms launched by the shah in the early 1960s, including land redistribution to peasants, which alienated the ulama and the landed upper class.
How did Ayatollah Khomeini initially oppose the shah?
He opposed the White Revolution as anti-Islamic, leading to his arrest in 1963 and exile in 1964.
What was the significance of the Religious Corps created by the shah?
It offered a state-controlled version of Shi’ism, challenging the ulama’s authority.
How did the shah celebrate Iran’s pre-Islamic heritage?
He held a lavish celebration in Persepolis in 1971, emphasizing Iran’s Persian heritage over its Islamic history.
What were the economic effects of Iran’s oil boom in the 1960s and 1970s?
It raised living standards for some but left others, like the bazaaris and rural populations, struggling.
