Iran’s modern political history, (that of the last century) began with the fall of the Qajor dynasty, and the constitutional revolution. Because of the strategic geographical position of Iran, the Qajar dynasty (1796-1928) fell prey to two great powers of the early 20th century in Asia, England and Russia. Both countries wanted political and economic hegemony in Iran. Iran’s unsuccessful wars with these countries led to the constitutional revolution, which was “the first occasion of united action by the Iranian people against the autocratic policies of the Shah and his court”.2
Around the turn of the 19th century, Iran lost two wars with Russia and also fought with England. The treaties of Gulistan (1813) and Turkomanchai (1828) with Russia were insults to Iranian prestige. The tobacco concession of 1890 and oil concession of 1901 to England also insulted Iranian national sovereignty. Bearing in mind the above statement by Behnam, concerning the duties of the monarchy, it is clear why the threat of revolution was imminent. The monarchy was not fulfilling its traditional role, and the Iranian people saw their natural resources taken over and country dominated by external powers. The Qajar dynasty’s failure to maintain its duties led to its demise and the birth of the constitutional revolution (1905-1909).
The new Iranian parliament, or Majlis, drafted a constitution, which was ratified by the Shah on December 30th 1906. Modeled after the Belgium constitution, the new document gave legislative power to a popular assembly. The power to regulate important economic decisions, especially in relation to foreign interests, was given to the Majlis. But, the institution of the monarchy was kept, as well as the Shah’s control of the army. The power of the Iranian state dwindled under the new constitution. From 1908-1914, Russian troops constantly occupied the northern parts of Iran. By the time the Majlis dissolved in 1911, Iran was virtually controlled by Russia and Britain.
After 20 years of confusion and foreign intervention, which had come with the failed attempt at a constitutional form of government, Iran was ready for a strong leader again. This they found in 1921, when Reza Khan (who would later become Reza Shah) marched his army into Tehran and took over the government. Reza Shah, primarily a militarist and nationalist, was focused on ridding Iran of foreign interference and domination. Reza Shah was intent on using modernization to achieve his goals.
Being a extreme nationalist, Reza Shah would not accept foreign loans to pay for his modernization efforts, and instead levied the burden on the his people. The heavy taxation fell primarily on the lower class; the Shah favored the landowning class. The Shah sold state owned land, which ultimately put the tenant farmers directly under the landowners’ control. The Shah all but encouraged the oppressive land tenure system and did almost nothing in the way of agricultural development. Pressing economic issues of the times went unaddressed while the Shah focused on his modernization efforts. Costly roads and government factories were built, whether they were necessary or not. The Trans-Iranian railroad, an unnecessary development, was undertaken at this time. The Shah was also concerned with symbolic measures. Some of his reforms included the secularization of schools, (the founding of Tehran University) unveiling of women, and the “imposition” of western dress.
During the period of Reza Shah’s rule from 1926-1941, he fulfilled the traditional role of an absolute monarch, and acted contrary to the spirit of the constitution. Reza Shah’s main goal was to solidify his power by eliminating any rivals, such as the independent and influential Ulama, the merchant class, and members of notable families.3 These groups opposed his modernization efforts; the Shah’s main support lied with the bureaucracy and army. The xenophobia of the Iranian people increased during Reza Shah’s reign because of his extreme nationalistic stance.
World War II brought Reza Shah’s rule to an end. In order to supply the Russian troops, in 1941, British and Russian troops jointly occupied Iran. Reza Shah’s army was defeated and he refused to act as the head of an insovereign state. In September of 1941, Reza Shah abdicated in favor of his son, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi would rule Iran until the Islamic revolution of 1978-79. But, when Mohammad Reza Pahlavi first took control, he had a very small power base and no substantial authority. After his father’s abdication, the new Shah was left with a discredited army, and volatile political scene. Some of his initial problems were that the Ulama had not authorized him, the Majlis were divided, and new political parties were forming every day. Behnam sums up the situation saying, “from 1941 to the fall of Mossadegh in 1953, the Shah was just one more contender in the competition for power”.4
During Mohammad Reza Pahlavi’s first years as Shah, the major factors in Iranian politics were the crowd and public opinion. Two major organizations, Tudeh (masses) and National Front were formed. The Tudeh party was known as a communist organization. The National Front was a nationalist group formed in the Majlis and led by Muhammad Mossadegh. Mossadegh and the National Front gained the support of the masses. They campaigned for free elections and nationalization of the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company. Mohammad Reza Pahlavi reluctantly let the popular Mossadegh serve as prime minister from 1951-1953, and was clearly losing the battle for power. But, Mossadegh ultimately fell from power because of the British blockade of Iranian oil, and internal factors. Propaganda within Iran at that time warned of the imminent communist danger and essentially of a stable monarch. And finally, Operation Ajax, wherein the American CIA employed nonaligned Iranians to from a mob, along with the support of the Iranian army, deposed Mossadegh in a series of riots.
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi returned to power on the 22nd of August 1953. His reign was marked by economic expansion and political autocracy. The blatantly U.S. supported monarch reigned from 1953 until he too was over thrown in the Islamic Revolution of 1978-79.