Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
MIDDLE EAST
WEEK 6
IRAN AND REZA KHAN 1924-1941
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SECTION
REGIME
SECTION
SECTION
SECTION
SECTION A
THE ESTABLISHMENT AND THE NATURE OF THE
REGIME
(in other words, how he came to rule and the overall feel
and character of his rule without getting into specific
details about policies)
(a) how he took power
The north-west region of Azerbaijan was occupied by thre
Russians during World War 1. German attempts to win over
Persia meant Britain has a permanent presnece in the south
throughout the war.
The war toppled the Qajar dynasty of Ahmad Shah into lots of
separatist revolts.
They were excluded from the Paris Peace Settlement due to the
fact that the British had concluded a bi-lateral agreement
which would put Iran under British protection.
Persian nationalists, thanks to the Cossack Brigade commander
Reza Khan, managed to fight to stop the ratification of this
agreement as well as other rebel forces, and retain the
auhtority of Tehran.
Reza Shah was a soldier who helped preserve some sense of
naitonal indentity and avoid disintegration (in immediate postwar years). The Russian Revolution and the dismissal of many
Russian officers who were running the Iranian army gave him
his lucky break and he stppped in to a position of authority. By
1921 he had carried out a bloodless coup and forced Ahmad
Shah to appoint him Commander-in-Chief. By 1923 he was
Primeminister, and by 1925 King (via parliamentary vote). He
chose to name his dynasty Pahlavi (this was the name of the
language spoken in Persia before the Muslim conquest).
(b) how he consolidated his power (in other words,
started to put down more solid foundations to his rule)
He centralised the army then used it to crush all the rebels.,
inlcudng Sheikh Khazal in the south.
SECTION B
ATTEMPTS TO MODERNIZE
(CONTINUTIY AND CHANGES)
CONTINUITY
1924 March 4th the ulema declare that a republic is
contrary to Islam.
Reza Shah set up a dynasty monarchical and with a
nationalistic justification.
Compulsory Military Service Law clergy opposed it. So
he exemoted theological students until he felt more
secure.
He attacked the traditional land-owning elite and
confiscated much of their property. But the maj source of
welath remained the land.
No new civil liberties, so not so different to the Qajar
dynasty in that way. Feedom of press severely restricted
and all opposition totally supressed. Parliament was a
rubber stamp.
Dynastic nationalism replaced feudal relations
Created a Persian identity and so broke with the past.
History books emphasized pre-Islamic past. Persian
language de-Arabicised
Tried to break off foreign influnce of Russia and UK. But
UK always strong.
1933 negotiation with UK: Irans royalties from oil rose
from 16 to 20% but UK got 60 more years.
Saadabad Pact to strengthen relations with Turkey, Iraq
and Afghanistan.
SECTION C
WESTERN INFLUENCES
He did modernize the state.
Centralised army. 1925 = 40,000 1941 = 400,000
Social mobility in it, and foreign education. Less need for
tribes and private armies.
Only later did he beging to attack clergy, through
banning the turban
1936 he banned women from wearing the veil.
State was non existent when he took over. He created a
modern bureaucracy.
A new tax on sugar and tea balanced the budget . Bank
Melli Iran formed. It took over from British Imperial
Bank.
1927 new Ministry of Justice to draw up new civic
codes. Clergy still had some control.
Education
1927: new secondary schools
1928 foreign scholarships
1934 Tehran Uni set up.
Law obliging the choice of a name and its registration.
1929 Trans Iranian railway finished.
1925-194 12,000 km of roads built.
1934 influenced by Ataturk, he introduced new dress
codes.: western clothes and a hat.
1934 Women allowed to go to uni.
1941 he refused Allied help. They invaded and forced
him to abdicate.
SOME HISTORIOGRPAHICAL OPINIONS ON REZA SHAH
SECTION D
IB ESSAY QUESTIONS
Note how the first three questions are basically the same question. For they are all in
one way or another about the programme of modernisation carried out in Iran by Reza
Shah. They all ask you explain and assess it.