This was originally a powerpoint presentation I made for my junior theme project. I need to modify the .ppt file first before I attach it to this post (not sure if I can) or upload it on a hosting site since this is only half of the presentation. I wanted to provided a historical background of Iran within the context of Reading Lolita in Tehran (from Reza to Khatami) because there was a lot of political events that Dr. Azar Nafisi mentioned in her book. So, I thought that would've established the situation she dealt with before I present the Rogerian arguments of my essay, the second half of my presentation. My essay can be found here: http://www.progressiveu.org/004931-reading-lolita-tehran-exaggeration-mi...
Pre-Revolution Iran
Reza Shah Pahlavi:
A coup d’etat overthrew Ahmad Shah Qajar, the last shah of the Qajar dynasty, and establish Reza as a ruler. His reign compensated for the lack of a central government due to his previous predecessor. Reza modernized Iran by implementing many of his constructive plans: building large-scale industries and railroads, sustaining public education, and improving health care. German and foreign engineers/technicians were need to carry out development projects. However, Britain and U.S.S.R. invaders exiled Reza in 1941 for refusing to remove these German nationals.
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi:
Reza’s son succeeded his throne through British and Soviet authorities, but he would have to face competition for his position from Iranian prime minister, Dr. Mossedeq. Mossedeq was a hero among the public because he stood for the common people and claimed to be an anti-imperialist, but in reality, he utilized dictorial authority and showed characteristics of a demagogue. Later, British and US intervention as well as the Shah’s army thwarted him out of office.
Reza II managed to continue his father’s reform programs. . .
‘White Revolution’ (a 1963 domestic program):
-providing land reforms
-extending voting rights of women
-eradicating illiteracy
Dissent:
Opposition grew from Islamic authorities because of his arbitrary ceremonies and traditions of pre-Islamic Persia. The SAVAK, a hated Iranian intelligence organization, were used to arrest, exile, and torture the Shah’s opponents on an arbitrary basis. After the Shah left Iran in January 16, 1979, he appointed Shapour
Bakhtiar as prime minister during his absence. Bakhtiar invited Khomeini to return to Iran in February. . . but little did he know then that this would mean his own exile. . .
Mass purgings began immediately. . .
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1979 Revolution
ELIMINATIONS. . .
Khomeini executed many of the Shah’s associates including the notorious SAVAK, army officers loyal to Mohammed Reza, cabinet members, and officials from the previous regime. The new Islamic Republic on the ballot received 98% mandate when voting for a form of government. Thus, an Islamic theocracy was to come about. . .
Enforcing ‘Morality’:
In May 1979, Khomeini created the Pasdaran, or Revolutionary Guards, to enforce
‘morality’ ordinances. Repressive measures targeted ethnic minorities (including Arabs,
Turkomens, and Kurds) and especially women.
Ayatollah Mahmoud Taleqani:
“Taleqani, a much respected political figure, died in September 1979. Many, including members of nonrelgious factions, viewed him as a force of moderation capable of restraining the revolution from going to extremes. His death, therefore, brought sadness tinted with fear and uncertainty.” (Keshavarz 51)
~~~
Iran-Iraq War
Conflict:
Border disputes between Iran and Iraq have been a source of tension for
centuries. Since the collapse of the Ottoman empire after WWI, their contention grew
increasingly sharp and finally broke out into war.
Iran had some serious weaknesses. . .
-Khomeini hesitated to use the army for the war because of the political complications
they would bring later on.
-------Instead, he used the ill-trained Revolutionary Guards. . .
-Iran couldn’t get necessary military parts as well as other supplies and loans from the
U.S. or other Western countries.
-------Iraq, however, received support from almost every Western country in addition to the USSR and Arab countries
Chemical Warfare:
Iraq resorted to chemical warfare several times throughout the war. Although Iran had refused to use such tactics and relied on ‘human wave’ attacks instead, the country responded with the same measures out of desperation. Some of the chemical weapons Iran manufactured included “blister, blood, and choking agents” (Chemical 1). After countless Iraqi victories, both countries agreed to settle a ceasefire in 1988.
~~~
Post-Revolution Iran
Ayatollah ‘Alî Hosaynî Khâmene’î and President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani:
After Khomeini’s death, the ulama community assembled an emergency meeting to appoint President Khamene'i as the succeeding ayatollah. Rafsanjani, speaker of the
Parliament, was later elected president. The aftermath of the war left Iran in an economic disaster, exacerbated by western boycotts and ineffective economic policies.
President Mohammad Khatami:
President Khatami represented a liberal force in the Islamic Republic. Some of his efforts involved smoothing over Iran's tensions with western countries and neighboring rivals, alleviating the women's conditions, and bringing forth democracy. In 2001, Khatami was re-elected with a *mandate for reform; however, his reforms are progressing slowly and face conflicts with "Hebollahi" paramilitary groups and police members.
~~~
Sources:
-Jasmine and Stars: Reading More Than Lolita in Tehran by Fatemeh Keshavarz
-"Brief History of Modern Iran": http://www.mideastweb.org/iranhistory.htm
-"Reza Shah": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reza_Shah
-"Chemical Weapons": http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/iran/cw.htm
Images:
-Reza Shah Palavi: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/1b/RezaShah.jpg
-Mohammad Reza Palavi: http://www.mideastnews.com/reza02.gif
-Ayatollah Taleqani: http://iqna.ir/day_imgs/509_L_taleghani%20387%201.jpg
http://lakshmisrinivasaposina.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/images/iran-ir...
-Ayatollah Khâmene’î: http://www.sweetness-light.com/wp-content/photos/Iran/Khameni25.jpg
-President Rafsanjani: http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/images/40638000/jpg/_40638340_rafsanjani220b...
-President Khatami: http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/2006/09.14/photos/99-khatami.jpg
