A Revolution Fulfilled, or Betrayed? The Ideological Dynamics of the Iranian Revolution

The Iranian Revolution is often portrayed as the black sheep of revolutionary history: a triumph of right wing reactionaries over a relatively progressive - albeit despotic - authoritarian regime, and the popular revolt that sought to overthrow him for a more traditionally democratic system. This paper challenges this narrative in depth, arguing that the development of the Iranian Revolution can only be properly understood and contextualized within an Islamic framework that acknowledges the nationalistic struggle against Western imperialism underlying all of twentieth century Iranian history. Similarly, the consolidation of power by Ayatollah Khomeni and the Shi’ite ulama must be considered alongside the broader context of dissent and dialogue that characterize both the revolutions history, and Iran’s present. While the present Islamic government remains unapologetically totalitarian, these factors nevertheless prove that the political plurality that led to the Shah’s downfall remain a part of the revolutionary past, present, and future of Iran.