Iran questions. April 12, 2011.

a. Explain how Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi modernized and westernized Iran - give specific examples. Why did he do this? How did different groups benefit or suffer under the reforms? How did the people of Iran respond?

A free press flourished, allowing for criticism and open speech about the Majlis. The Plan Organization also helped modernization as well, and would maximize oil revenues. An oil consortium was formed - the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company, now called British Petroleum. They held 40% of the shares. He also aligned his country with the West - in 1959 they signed a bilateral defense treaty with the United States. He spent millions of dollars on US weapons. The people of Iran did not feel comfortable with so many Americans in their country (mostly businessmen). In 1963 the Shah launched the White Revolution, which consisted of six points - land reform, nationalization of forests and pastures, privatization of government-owned factories, profit sharing for industrial workers, reforms in electoral laws, and formation of Literacy Corps. These affected landlords mostly, and farmers who needed to borrow money to grow their own crops. Many now turned critical of the regime, however Iranians were reaping the benefits due to better health facilities, which allowed for a growing population.



b. impact of Western influence - how did different groups respond? what benefits and drawbacks were there?

Benefits included better health facilities, greater access to education, and increased exports which made the economy sufficiently stronger, however the westernization of Iran was resented by the traditional merchant classes whose lives were being threatened by the import of consumer goods. The other drawback was that since the population of Tehran grew from 2.9 million to 4.4 million in 1976, migrant workers were faced with poor living conditions, building roads and supplying them with electricity and water in smaller villages, now unimportant, was not achieved. Essentially, though it seemed that the Iranians had nothing to complain about, there were plenty of drawbacks as well.


c. White Revolution - who led the revolution and why did they revolt? who in society were their supporters? did they have outside help? how successful were they? were they successful or not?


The Shah led this revolution, which was another name for his reforms. These reforms were put in place in order to achieve the following; sell land from large land-owners to peasants at affordable prices, protect Iran's natural resources, selling shares of government-0wned businesses to the public, sharing of profits for industrial workers, giving women equal rights, and fixing illiteracy rates. 99% of the population was said to have voted in favor of the reforms. The outside help came mostly from the United States, as businesspeople helped to establish American (western) business ideas in Iran. They were successful, although many Iranians became critical of the regime, especially those who were negatively affected such as farmers and land-owners.


d. Explain the following -

i. religious issues - The Shah wanted to bring back memories of Iran's pre-Islamic past, such as inscribing the Pahlavi Dynasty in the historical line of Persia's ancient monarchs, which was seen as a disrespect to Iran's Islamic heritage. The insistence on Iran's pre-Islamic past upset many. The Shah also wanted to replace Iran's Islamic calendar, which was very offensive to the Muslims.
ii. gender issues - A law in 1936 forced women to dress in Western clothes, and there was an increase of women in the workplace and literacy rates rose. In 1967 the family law was reformed...The new civil code protected women as wives, divorcees, and guardians of the children.
iii. cultural issues - The issue of Iran's pre-Islamic past as opposed to the present day culture - similar to the religious issues it was also a cultural issue since the people did not find their roots in the pre-Islamic culture and could not relate to it.
iv. health care - Better access to health care, and better health services at that, caused the Iranian population to increase rapidly especially in the capital.
vi. education - Illiteracy rates declined.
vii. what else? - Economic concerns - the petrol crisis, given that Iran's primary source of revenue is through the oil industry, but following the Arab-Israeli war, there was a massive increase in the prices.


e. 1979 revolution - explain who led the revolution, why did they revolt? who in society were their supporters? did they have outside help? how successful were they? were they successful or not?

Protesters who came from all segments of life revolted - men and women alike called for changes. They revolted because they were resentful of the changes that had been taking place and the Shah. The public sector and oil industry also went on strike, in support of the revolution. They did not have outside help but they were very successful given that while the Shah and his family were gone from Iran, a mutiny among airforce technicians triggered an uprising and the people came in support of Khomeini, who was left in charge while the Shah was gone, therefore the government of Bakhtiar had fallen and the Pahlavi dynasty had ended.. the revolution was successful.