The Iranian Revolution Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

The Iranian alteration - Essay ExampleThis research will begin with the statement that the Iranian Revolution (also referred to as the Muslim Revolution/1979 Revolution) details the events entailing the overthrow of the Pahlavi dynasty ruled by Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who was considered a close ally to western governments much(prenominal) as the U.S. The demonstrations against the Shah regime started in October 1977 and developed in to a widespread campaign of civil immunity that can be regarded as partly religious and secular, and reached fever pitch in January 1978. The royal dominate ultimately collapsed shortly after the defeat of the loyal force by guerrilla and rebel troops in armed street battles. After the fall of Pahlavi Dynasty, Iran voted to adopt an Islamic Republic mode of governance, and plunk for a fresh democratic-theocratic hybrid Constitution on which Khomeini became Supreme Leader of the country as from celestial latitude 1979. The Iranian Revolution cam e as a surprise to many, as well as to Shah of Iran. The Iranian vicissitude was a surprise to many given that it lacked the majority of the routine causes of revolution it generated immense changes at a fast speed, was immensely popular among the masses and, supervene upond a modernizing autocratic monarchy with a theocracy grounded in the Guardianship of the Islamic Jurists. Even at the height of street protests and demonstrations, neither Iranians nor its key allies such as the U.S officials perceive the possibility that Irans armed troops, which was highly modernized and the largest, would be incapable of dealing with the revolutionaries.... Even at the height of street protests and demonstrations, neither Iranians nor its key allies such as the U.S officials perceived the possibility that Irans armed troops, which was highly modernized and the largest, would be incapable of dealing with the revolutionaries (Coughlin 4). The causes of the Iranian Revolution can be traced to h appenings that long predated it. In 1963, the Shah launched his White Revolution detailing a series of radical reforms fashioned at modernizing and westernizing Iran. Although, the instituted reforms generated rapid economic growth, they also yielded to social dislocation, speedy urbanization, and the incorporation of western habits and customs by the thought elite, which alienated traditionalists and pious religious elements within Iranian society (Abrahamian 6). The undertaken reforms also threatened to undermine the economic base and persuasion on Irans clerical establishments by alienating the clergy from the regime. This ultimately proved catastrophic in the end with the collapse of the monarch (Amuzegar 10). Although, the Shah enjoyed the support of Irans upper and middle classes, he did non respond adequately to the rising discontent among the ultra-conservative. Shah had sectional support from some clerics who viewed him as a substitute to the political left. Nevertheles s, other clerics were dissatisfied with the way in which the monarch was running its affairs. The clerics associated Shah with his fathers actions in 1936 when he barred clerics from acting as judges within state courts. Ayatollah Khomeini issued a fatwa (religious edict) against the proposed reform and who