Islamic Revolution in Iran - Coursework Example

ISLAMIC REVOLUTION IN IRAN Introduction: Before 1978-79 Iran was ruled by the monarch Muhammad Reza Shah Pahlavi. He was deposed, replaced with a theocratic government under the guardianship of Ayatollah Khomeini. The movement that deposed Reza Shah was a traditionalist reactionary movement that generated a very hostile response. The Shah was beholden to the West, especially to America for his throne, and the people of Iran, mostly Shiite Muslims said he was corrupting the Muslims of Iran by promoting Western Culture. The populaces of Iran were of the opinion that the Shah and his government were corrupt, vicious, and excessively wasteful and its ambitions had ruined Iran, caused economic obstacles which resulted in massive inflation. This can be said to be a major event of the start of a historically significant period, which started a wave of Islamic Evangelic religious movements in most backwards countries with a predominant Muslim population who attributed their deprivations and poverty to the Western cultures imposed upon them by their regimes, most who were allied with the West specially with America. Western vested interests have added considerable fuel to this religious fervor, as the Americans usually do what is in their national and economic interests, disregarding the suffering they cause, and even condone the genocide of the population by dictators who have their support. A prime example of this has been Saddam Husain who killed hundreds of thousands of Kurds, and was even supported by the American CIA because he was at that time an ally of the Americans1. Surprise and absence of customary causes: This popular uprising was exceptional and the only one of its kind, which surprised the world, becoming a subject of historical debate because it lacked the major reasons for revolutions that took place in other parts the world. There were no financial crises, the country had not been in any conflict or defeated, there was no deficit in the national budget nor was the country in debt, the military was quite satisfied with things and the common people, peasants and other workers who make up most of the workforce had regular and steady employment. In short there was no probable cause for rebelling against the government in place. The government had a large standing army, including very heavily financed security services. All this did not help as the army collapsed in a matter of months before unarmed demonstrators. The intensity of the revolution sent ripples of surprise all over the world, because the Shah was perceived to be a popular figure that had world wide support, specifically that of America and the United Kingdom. It was generally perceived that the Iranians were prospering under the rule of the Shah and did not dislike him. Causes: The primary causes of the revolution are attributed to the monarchist regime’s imposing a specific form of “capitalism” upon the country with was a small group of people who together governed the nation often for their own purposes. This was meant to be the mechanism for Iran’s prompt economic progress2. Instead it created an assortment of catastrophes that endangered the very existence of capitalism by “small governing groups. This modernization program created a division between the ruling and moneyed class and the ordinary citizenry. This also intensified the social divide between the people of Iran that threatened the shape and outline of the prevalent dominance of the ancient producers in Iranian villages who had an established stake in the utilization of village capital and possessions, a significant part of which was the supply and distribution of water. The villagers pooled their sources of information and resources about such vital issues such as land use and the rotation of crops. In their own ways, Iranian villages were being governed as their inherited ancient form of democracy which rested in the collective authority of the producers. This form of self-governing minimized the cost of production, which enabled them to produce surpluses. The modernization program of the government threatened this ancient system and was opposed by social agents and the small governing groups of the villages. It also had a deep effect on local politicians, most of who were allied with the Shi’a clergy3. The modernization revolution can best be described as a counter revolution which had been designed and implemented to replace the ancient form of governing their own villages, which was not to the liking to most of the populace of Iran. The modern capitalist system implemented by the regime of the Shah was an exploiting one which was resisted by the urban and rural population. Most aspects of the so called modernization program were implemented by the use of force by the secret police of the Shah. The large amounts of money coming into the country through the export and boom of oil prices, created a backlash of unemployment and very high rates of inflation. The modernization program also vested power in the upper levels of hierarchy which encouraged massive corruption, and did not produce the prosperity promised by the modernization program which greatly angered the people. Another factor was the interference of foreigners, pre-dominantly with the economy and affairs of the country, and the brutal suppression of dissent by the “Savak” secret police of the Shah further aggravated an already troubled situation. The people perceived that the only remedy for their problems was religious fundamentalism, and much respect and power was thus accorded to the clergy who led the popular uprising that resulted in the ouster of the government. The other general impression was that this adaptation of Western culture not only had hindered the economic development of the country, but also had led to the decline of sexual morality, was basically responsible for an increase in the consumption of alcohol and drugs. A further cause of outrage was the way that Islamic societies were suffering the disgrace and mortification of seeing Islamic government being submissive to the West, and also the creation of Israel in lands that Muslims consider sacred. All this laid the base of the general religious and cultural issues culminating in the revolution and the ouster of the Shah. The modernization program ushered in encouraging environment for Western styled reforms at the cost of the traditional landlords and their representatives who included producers working on the ancient system, merchants and moneylenders4. Land Reforms: . More than 65% of the rural producers in Iran were adherents of the ancient system as their resources were adequate for their own form of production, and they were not dependent upon other agents and agencies for subsistence. The farmers who tilled the land did not own this land having to rent it from these ancient producers or their agents. The peasants and farmers were subservient to these land owners and followed their every dictate, even to the extent of the political system for the land. The producers exploited the peasants, having no other means of livelihood. Apart from the religious sentiments echoed by most Iranians, these producers could not afford to have land reforms implemented which would deprive them of their traditional position and source of income. The producers did not adhere to a cash economy, and accounts were settled mostly in kind, which suited these producers quite admirably. The land reforms which were initiated in 1962 to 1978, wherein the producers had to depend upon a cash economy was not accepted as they had to produce crops which had cash value instead of crops with barter value. This basically changed the entire system to the disadvantages of the producers, and they immensely disliked the government of the Shah. Due to their great numbers, and controlling 65% of the agricultural production of Iran, they proved to be formidable opponents and contributed the most influence in deposing the Shah and bringing in the clergy to institute their form of Islamic government. Due to the power of the land owners, it was not easy to institute land reforms in Iran. The prevailing landlords, who had inherited this land from their forefather’s, were many in number and carried great political influences in the towns and cities of Iran. They also were free from the obligations of feudal landowners, which was instrumental in increasing their resources and influence since most of the farmers in Iran worked either for them, with them or under them5. About sixty percent of the seats in the Iranian legislative assembly were controlled by such landlords before land reforms were instituted, and they used this political clout to prevent any legislation for land reforms. The Shah’s government, his cabinet members and advisers were greatly inspired by the Chinese revolution of 1949, which convinced the regime that the peasants must at all costs be kept calm and satisfied. The Shah broke up the legislature that was dominated by the landlords and introduced The Land Reform Act of 1962. This envisaged that landlords who did not work the land had their lands confiscated and sold or given as gifts to landless peasants who were working on the land. Some farmers were given the land in installments The basic reasoning was that these measures would go a long way in hastening the demise of the monarchy. Therefore ways and means were sought for these direct products to engage in capitalist ventures, which would then ensure the destabilization of the system of the ancient producers and break their traditional partnerships. Subsequently, such reforms were considered to weaken the stronghold of ever so powerful landlords, who were considered to be the greatest obstacle to the modernization programs of Shah6. The Shah had ordered the distribution of land to landless peasants in efforts to win over the rural population, thereby weakening the landlords who dominated agriculture and the legislative assemblies by their sheer numbers and political influence. To this end the Shah had also order the distribution of Royal lands amongst landless peasants and farmers so that they would support his modernization programs, in the pattern that it happened in the creation of a republic in China. Corruption: Reviewing causes of the revolution, the most prevalent reasons were the wide- spread corruption of government officials and members of the ruling elite. This added with the violent methods of the police created rebellious feelings in the general population. Also the increasing income inequality, class processes and Western imperialism were all relevant for the causes responsible of the Islamic revolution. Other issues were the internal struggles and conflicts and jockeying for influence and positions between the ruling elite that added strength to the opposition. The Revolution also gained impetus because of the class struggles and subsequent problems over the economic and other issues linked with the aftermath of the Islamic Revolution. The land reforms were instituted to increase agricultural productivity so that the cost of agricultural supplies could become more economical, introduce and implement mechanized farming and free labor for working in industries. It also envisaged initiating agricultural reforms so that higher land taxes could be levied, and the industrial sector could benefit by working and producing finished goods for products grow by the agricultural sector. Religion a more potent mobilizer than secular ideologies: There are countless valid reasons that the materialization of fundamentalism in Iran has had worldwide repercussions. The importance of the Islamic Revolution in Iran has created shock waves throughout countries with a Muslim majority and ruled by dictators. This is termed the most momentous happening in contemporary Islamic history. The effect can be felt in the entire Islamic World from Morocco to Indonesia, from Bosnia to Europe and from Asia all the way to Africa. Iran and its supporters throughout the world have remained prominently in the eyes of the world in the stir of the Salman Rushdie issue7. This demonstrated with coherent force that religion is still a stronger and more potent force for mobilizing the masses than socialism or other secular ideologies. This has also ended the supremacy and authority of the Western social model which was being enforced worldwide by dictators and pre-Western rulers8. The magnitude of the Islamic revolution can be compared with the with other large scale revolutions in history such as the French and Russian revolutions. This revolution has also revived Islamic fundamentalism all over the world. This assessment of the Islamic Revolution has been given by Dr. Kalim Siddiqui, who is a director of the Muslim Institute of London: After the revolution in Iran, Muslims all over the world have been profoundly affected and excited about the success of this revolution. While discussing this subject, people speak with very low voices, and usually discuss it behind closed for fear of being informed upon. If there were no boundaries between nations, Ayatollah Khomeni could easily be elected by just the support of the Muslims as the unopposed leader of the Muslim world. No one is certain which country will follow in the footsteps or Iran and when, since fundamentalist activities have gathered strength in most Muslim countries, most outstandingly in Turkey, Pakistan and Egypt. Islam dominates the live of the Afghan people who has acquired various favors from Muslim majority population countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Nigeria, Senegal, Tunisia, Morocco and Jordan9. After the Iranian revolution, the fundamentalists and their continual support are always in the limelight whether it in in Afghanistan, the war of liberation in Kashmir, acts of terrorism in American and have all been traced to fundamental Islamic sources operating in different countries of the world. The Iranian government currently finances the Hezbollah in Lebanon and the radical wings of Palestinians who are fighting Israel. Iran blames Israel for the imbalance on power in the region The Shah of Iran: Most of the population of Iran lived in poverty, and the divide between the rich and poor widened with each passing year. Most of the wealth in Iran was in the hands of a small elite group of 1000 families. The Shah owned a great deal of land, as did the Shia clergy which had continued to receive land through religious endowments. The Shah encouraged the spread of secularism in an effort to reduce the influence of the clergy. The Shah created an alliance with the secularists who were against Muslims, who honored traditionalist values matters relating to the dress of women, alcohol, tobacco, gambling and other habits deemed to be vices and said to be attributes of the West. Although the Shah enjoyed the support of the upper and mid class, he used to care about the opinion of the country’s traditional Muslims. Some clerics did support the Shah, who saw him as a lesser evil than communism10. Most clerics were not at all comfortable because the Shah’s father had not allowed the clerics to serve as judges in the judicial system of the country. The clergy headed by Ramallah Khomeni were deeply offended when the Shah started making legislation. The Shah wanted better ties with America so he agreed to give oil drilling permission to a western conglomerate. The Iranians disliked this immensely as they saw the Americans replacing the British. Some of his opponents got involved in the formation of an underground group, Feedayen-e-Islam, which attempted to assassinate the Prime Minister appointed by Shah. The Shah retaliated viciously by repressing the Feedayen-e-Islam and executing its captured members. In a speech honoring the dead as martyrs, Khomeni called Shah a despotic tyrant and oppressor11. The Shah was furious and when it arrested Khomeni, massive antigovernment demonstrations erupted in many cities. The Shah sent in troops with tanks who were ordered to shoot to kill on sight. The Iranian air force sprayed a large column of marchers with bullets killing many demonstrators. Although this tremendous use of force crushed the uprising, it is estimated that at least 10,000 Iranians were killed. The government only quoted the figures at the number of people killed as 86. The Shah sent Khomeni to Iraq into exile, who then settled in a Shiite community of Iraq. This vicious fierceness against the clergy and unarmed demonstrators turned most of the population against the Shah. The forced exile made a hero out of Khomeni, and the hope of the Iranian people. Even in exile, Khomeni continued his opposition to the government, and smuggled pamphlets and tape recordings, declaring that a monarchy was against Islam, and the label of “King of Kings’ assumed by Shah was abhorrent to God and against Islam. When the mullahs in Iran deposed the Persian monarchy at the height of its power, and in its place implemented it with the implementation of Sharia law, a law which consists of public and private acts that is prescribed in the Holy Koran. After he came to power in 1954, Shah started programs to modernize Iran in an economic as well as a social manner12. He wanted to win favor with the Iranian population and most of the reforms were for the uplift of common Iranians. From 1963 onwards, the Shah assisted by the United States made concentrated efforts to modernize Iran. He accepted the existence of Israel, and was seen as a force of stabilization in the Middle East. The United States helped the Shah to lay the foundations of several atomic power plants, and also constructed fertilizer plants and chemicals for killing pests that destroyed agriculture. After 1963 Iran’s economy grew by leaps and bounds and included the construction of refineries, machine tool factories, aluminum smelters, tractors and other vehicular equipment. The number of hospitals and doctors increased tremendously, and the country prospered enjoying a standard of living like never before. However in spite of the flourishing economy, many Iranians were still quite poor13. Agricultural production has seen a rise at a rate of two and a half percent per annum, but in contrast Iran's population had increased at three percent per annum, and with the prospering economy Iran also had to deal with an inflation rate which went up to fifty percent from thirty percent per annum. The government failed to manage the economy properly. When the Shah took actions to stop inflation by controlling prices, it greatly aggravated the merchants in Iran. Most of them could barely afford to pay their rents which had witnessed a multifold increase in a period of five years, which was almost fifty percent of what a middleclass family could make. It was only the upper class that prospered well. Corruption flourished and was commonplace among government officials hungry for wealth, while income levels of Iranians fell as prices kept in rising. Obviously, land owners and some members of the clergy immensely disliked these reforms and the Ayatollah Khomeni issued a religious proclamation opposing the reforms14. The government responded by broadcasting statements ridiculing Khomeni, saying that the Shah wanted to take Iran to a modern era, while mullahs were determined to keep Iran in the stone age. The government ruthlessly suppressed dissent, and when religious students demonstrated against the opening of liquor stores, they were taken into custody by Shah’s army. This crackdown resulted in the agitation spreading from Tabriz to Qom, and it is said that the government troops killed hundreds of demonstrators. The dishonor of the bloody subjugation of 1963 refused to die out, and the Shah carried on his brutalities in contradiction of the clerics unsympathetic to his act of modernization. In 1966 the Shah implemented book censorship and the police raided libraries found in mosques. The regime of the Shah introduced secular laws in 1067, which gave women the legal right to file for divorce in a court of law without the knowledge or permission of the husband. Another law also denied the right of the husband to marry for a second time or take another wife without the consent of the first wife. Legal matters regarding family disputes were moved from the religious courts to modern day secular courts. The Shah tried to bribe neutral clerics into siding with him, and he also established a new parliamentary body to sidetrack criticism from the masses against him. The Shah hoped that his son would overtake him and he also hoped that returning the country to a constitutional government would ensure a peaceful transition15. As a revolution it means that there was a conflict between whom was it? Even after the revolution there were a lot of internal conflicts between the government and the other political parties who had supported the Iranian revolution. Because of its exclusive uniqueness and its very different character, it has faced continuous security challenges both inside the country and from other countries. The repudiation of the current situation in the world, and the prominence on Islamic ideology has persistently aggravated the super powers and their allies in this region. The stability of Iran was threatened because its regional antagonists such as Iraq and Saudi Arabia did not desire cordial relations with Iran because of its fundamental Islamic ideology. Iraq attacked Iran with the perception that without the Shah and its internal problems the country would not be able to fight the war. Iran had summarily executed most of its top army generals and officers who had favored the Shah, and according to the revolutionaries were traitors of Iran. This was the longest drawn out war, spanning eight years. The United States and Saudi Arabia supported the dictator Saddam Hussein because of their intense dislike of the Iranian clergy dominated regime. Despite its setbacks, Iran could for the first time in two centuries could be called a true sovereign that was running its affairs without outside interference. Due to the political and cultural clashes between Iran and Saudi Arabia, relations between the two countries have hardly ever been cordial. Internal opposition to the radical policies of the new regime began soon after the ouster of the Shah. The opposition parties, who had supported the Revolution, then began opposing it because they needed change, and were not satisfied with the way the government was functioning. The largest and most popular opposition was from the People's Mujahedeen of Iran (MEK) who although had been allies of Khomeni, parted ways from the Supreme Leader quite soon after the revolution16. In 1981, the conflict between the government and the MEK erupted into street battles. After the MEK was banned in Iran, Saddam Hussein took advantage of their conflict and gave the MEK refuge and bases and financial support to attack Iranian government targets, and also to supply inside information about the regime. Among the other opposition parties was the Tudeh party, which called itself the “the party of the masses”. They too had sided with Khomeni during the revolution, but now wanted a different form of government. ManyTudeh party members were arrested and executed in 1980. In 1981, all political parties were banned with the exception of the Islamic Republic Party. Still later, even this party was divided by Khomeni because of internal strife between party members, and only parties that followed the Islamic character of the regime were allowed to function (Rahimi). Politicians, who opposed the Islamic regime paid quite heavily, sometimes even with their lives. This happened to Abulhassan Bani Sadr, who was impeached and had to flee into exile. During 1989, Ayotallah Hussein Ali Montazeri and the apparent successor was dismissed because he criticized the arrests of opposing politicians and who called for more openness in government. After the death of Khomeini, Ayotallah Hashemi Rafsanjani was the elected president of Iran for two terms. Rafsanjani was accused by his opponents of massive corruption. This was followed by the reformer Mohammad Khatami, who surprised everyone by winning the election in a massive landslide victory17. Khatami tried to reform the judiciary, but this proved difficult as the jury was dominated and controlled by conservatives. Khatami had attempted to increase the power of the president by reducing the power of the 12 member council, which was appointed by the Supreme Leader and was selected by parliament18. These efforts were blocked by that powerful body, which had veto powers over matters relating to the constitution. There was also widespread student agitation after, and periodic protests continued against the government. In 2009, after the re-election of Ahmadinejad the Iranian population again took to the streets and massive demonstrations were witnessed against the government. References JANUARY, B. (2008). The Iranian Revolution. Minneapolis [Minn.], Twenty-First Century Books. LIN, JING (ADVISOR), & ZAREAN, MOHAMMAD JAVAD. (1998). Islamic values & their reflection in the Iranian elementary textbooks : Islamization in post-revolutionary Iran. McGill University. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=35723. BRITISH BROADCASTING CORPORATION, & FILMS INCORPORATED. (1984). Iran, a revolution betrayed. Wilmette, IL, Films Inc. ARJOMAND, S. A. (1988). The turban for the crown: the Islamic revolution in Iran. New York, Oxford University Press. WRIGHT, R. B. (2000). The last great revolution: turmoil and transformation in Iran. New York, A.A. Knopf. BAKHASH, S. (1984). The reign of the ayatollahs: Iran and the Islamic revolution. New York, Basic Books. NASHAT, G. (1983). Women and revolution in Iran. Boulder, Colo, Westview Press. KEDDIE, N. R., RICHARD, Y., & KEDDIE, N. R. (2003). Modern Iran: roots and results of revolution. New Haven, Conn, Yale University Press. ʻIBĀDĪ, S., & MOAVENI, A. (2006). Iran awakening: a memoir of revolution and hope. New York, Random House. WRIGHT, M., & DANZIGER, N. (1989). Iran: the Khomeini revolution. Harlow, Essex, UK, Longman. ABBASI-SHAVAZI, M. J., MCDONALD, P. F., & HOSSEINI-CHAVOSHI, M. (2009). The fertility transition in Iran revolution and reproduction. Dordrecht, Springer. http://www.myilibrary.com?id=236301. KURZMAN, C. (2004). The unthinkable revolution in Iran. Cambridge, Mass, Harvard University Press. GREENBLATT, M. (2003). Iran. New York, Children's Press. FISCHER, M. M. J. (1980). Iran: from religious dispute to revolution. Cambridge, Mass, Harvard University Press. KEDDIE, N. R., & RICHARD, Y. (1981). Roots of revolution: an interpretive history of modern Iran. New Haven, Yale University Press. ABRAHAMIAN, E. (2008). A history of modern Iran. Cambridge, U.K., Cambridge University Press. FORAN, J. (1994). A century of revolution: social movements in Iran. Minneapolis, University of Minnesota Press. RAMAZANI, R. K. (1990). Iran's revolution: the search for consensus. Bloomington, Indiana University Press. Read More