Khomeinism, the Islamic Revolution and Anti Americanism
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Khomeinism, the Islamic Revolution and Anti Americanism Mohammad Rezaie Yazdi A thesis submitted to the University of Birmingham For the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY School of Political Science and International Studies University of Birmingham March 2016 University of Birmingham Research Archive e-theses repository This unpublished thesis/dissertation is copyright of the author and/or third parties. The intellectual property rights of the author or third parties in respect of this work are as defined by The Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988 or as modified by any successor legislation. Any use made of information contained in this thesis/dissertation must be in accordance with that legislation and must be properly acknowledged. Further distribution or reproduction in any format is prohibited without the permission of the copyright holder. Abstract The 1979 Islamic Revolution of Iran was based and formed upon the concept of Khomeinism, the religious, political, and social ideas of Ayatullah Ruhollah Khomeini. While the Iranian revolution was carried out with the slogans of independence, freedom, and Islamic Republic, Khomeini's framework gave it a specific impetus for the unity of people, religious culture, and leadership. Khomeinism was not just an effort, on a religious basis, to alter a national system. It included and was dependent upon the projection of a clash beyond a “national” struggle, including was a clash of ideology with that associated with the United States. Analysing the Iran-US relationship over the past century and Khomeini’s interpretation of it, this thesis attempts to show how the Ayatullah projected "America" versus Iranian national freedom and religious pride. This projection used national interest and the religious and social culture of Iranians to mobilise the masses to overthrow a secular and pro-American political system, replacing it with an Islamic, anti-American system. However, while anti-Americanism was an essential part of Khomeinism, it was a conditional and impermanent concept. As the historical investigation shows, hostility between Iranian and American communities has been exceptional for much of the period since 1850. That recognition, as well as the critique of Khomeinism, offers possibilities for improvement in future relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the West, especially the US. Acknowledgement All praise is due to God for all his blessings an important of which was the ability to undertake this PhD. Knowledge is a journey that needs to be taken and this journey will not be possible without the help and support of others. First of all, I would like to thank my supervisor, Professor Scott Lucas for his continuous support, advice and inspirations. Scott is not just a supervisor but a dear friend to me who, consistently, supported me both on an academic level as well as on personal levels. Without his support, this PhD would not have been possible. I also have to thank those supportive friends of mine who helped me with the access to first-hand research sources in the Iranian Foreign Ministry, National Library and IRIB (The Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting organisation). Furthermore, I would like to appreciate all those friends who helped me in one way or another during the course of this PhD. Last but not least, I would like to give my warmest appreciations to my family and in particular my dear wife, Farahnaz, who tirelessly supported me in every step of this challenging journey with her immense love and sacrifice. My son and daughter, Ali and Zahra, and their excellent academic and personal achievements provided me with a reason to stay strong despite various difficulties and challenges which my family and I encountered during the past years. I should, also, thank my beloved parents and sisters who, despite their physical distance, provided me with encouragement in every step of this journey. Table of Contents Chapter 1: Introduction ................................................................................................................ 1 The Place of Khomeinism in Iran .................................................................................................... 4 The Fundamentals of Khomeinism .................................................................................................. 8 The Position of the US in Khomeinism ......................................................................................... 10 Khomeinism and the historical approach ....................................................................................... 12 Aims & Objectives ......................................................................................................................... 15 Research Method ........................................................................................................................... 18 Chapter 2: Theoretical Approaches to the Islamic Revolution ............................................... 19 Group 1: Non-scientific and Journalistic approaches: ................................................................... 21 Group 2: Scientific and Theoretical Approaches ........................................................................... 25 The Proposed Theory: Role of Religious Leadership and his Ideology ........................................ 40 Chapter 3: Iran-US Non-Governmental Relationship, 1832-1883 .......................................... 44 Background of the US presence in Iran, “The Idea of America” .................................................. 47 Nature of presence of America in Iran ........................................................................................... 50 From History to Myth .................................................................................................................... 53 The Purgatory Period of ‘Non-Governmental Relationship .......................................................... 57 The Basis for Formation of a Governmental Relationship ............................................................ 59 Chapter 4: The Period of US Presence in Iran, 1883-1939 ...................................................... 61 The establishment of American presence in Iran 1883-WWII ...................................................... 63 The Tobacco concession ............................................................................................................ 64 The US and the Constitutional Revolution (1905 – 1911) ......................................................... 66 World War I and After ............................................................................................................... 70 Changing the Monarchy from Qajar to Pahlavi (1920-1923) .................................................... 76 Chapter 5: The Period of US Influence in Iran 1939-1953 ...................................................... 81 Second World War: Beginning of US influence in Iran ................................................................ 84 Expansion of US Influence: After the Second World War ............................................................ 88 The United States and the 1953 Coup ........................................................................................ 92 Chapter 6: The Iran-US New Relationship and the Foundation for Khomeinism, 1953- 1963 ........................................................................................................................................................ 97 After the Coup................................................................................................................................ 98 The US and Iran in the Kennedy Years ....................................................................................... 103 The Rise of Khomeini as a Marja Opposing the Shah and the US .............................................. 107 Chapter 7: The Confrontation with the Shah and the Rise of Khomeinism, 1963- 1964 .... 115 The Uprising of June 5, 1963 (15 Khordad) ................................................................................ 116 The Capitulation Issue and Redefining “Americanisation” ......................................................... 123 Capitulation Development in Iran ............................................................................................ 124 Re-Approving Capitulation ...................................................................................................... 126 Khomeini’s Opposition to Capitulation ................................................................................... 127 Chapter 8: Preparing For a Revolution ................................................................................... 134 Khomeini in Exile and the “Golden Era” of Iran-US Relations .................................................. 135 Expansion of the Opposition below the Surface .......................................................................... 141 Emergence of the Conceptions of Islamic Revolution: ............................................................... 145 Khomeinism from Theoretical to Practical level ......................................................................... 149 The fragile conditions of Iran: A Catalyst for Khomeinist Movement ........................................ 150 The “Rehearsal Era” of the Iranian Revolution ........................................................................... 163 Chapter 9: The Rise of Islamic Revolution.............................................................................