DOCSLIB.ORG

Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi & the Myth of Imperial Authority

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi & the Myth of Imperial Authority Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi & the Myth of Imperial Authority Ali Massoud Ansari School of Oriental & African Studies (SOAS) University of London Thesis submitted for the degree of PhD / mbiX (LONDON] \ir N r a / ProQuest Number: 10672656 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a com plete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. uest ProQuest 10672656 Published by ProQuest LLC(2017). Copyright of the Dissertation is held by the Author. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States C ode Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106- 1346 Abstract The thesis is an investigation into the concept of modem political myth and its relationship to ideology. It argues that political myth can best be understood as the personalisation or familiarisation of ideology, by which ideological constructions are identified either with an individual, normally a political leader, or are expressed in mythic representations familiar within a given state and drawn from the traditional myths which permeate the political cultures of that state. The thesis argues that the personalisation and possible personification of ideology is one of the most obvious methods of political myth production and notes that the inherent contradictions and tensions resulting from an attempt to identify an individual with a principle almost always results in the construction of political myth. Political myth construction and development remains dynamic and reciprocal in relation to its ideational and material environment. Iran during the Palilavi period (1921-79) provides the case-study for the thesis, as a society in the process of profound social and economic change led by a government both enthusiastic and economically able to impose its own particular conception of development and modernity within a nationalistic framework, upon the country. The continued importance of personalities to the political process and then attempts to identify with particular ideologies provided cogent examples of political myth construction and development. With particular emphasis on Shah Mohammad Reza Palrlavi, the thesis shows the development of his ideological world-view, the initial reciprocal dynamic of these views, leading towards increasing identification, polarisation and isolation by the end of his reign. The thesis seeks to show how political myth was employed to naturalise and legitimise the Palrlavi Dynasty within the Iranian state. In charting the ideological development in the Pahlavi era, from traditional state towards a particular conception of modernity, political myth is seen to be not a uniquely modem phenomenon. However, the emergence of the modem mass media, especially in electronic form has resulted in the acceleration of political myth construction and its widespread and rapid dissemination. This technological change helps to differentiate modern political myth from its predecessors and given the continuing growth of the mass media, is likely to ensure that the concept of political myth will be increasingly important to political discourse. 2 Contents Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................... 6 A Note on Transliteration and D ates .............................................................................. 7 Theoretical Framework and Structure of Study ......................................................8 Central Thesis ................................................................ 8 The Importance of Political M yth..................................................................... 10 Epistemological Framework.............................................................................. 16 Ideology & Political Myth .................................................................................. 18 Defining Ideology .................................................................................. 18 Defining Political M yth ......................................................................... 21 Identifying Political M y th ..................................................................... 24 Political Myth and Leadership ........................................................................... 28 The advent of mass communications ................................................................ 31 Pahlavi Iran as a case study ............................................................................... 33 S o u rces............................................................................................................... 36 Framework for Analysis .................................................................................... 38 Critical Hermeneutics............................................................................ 38 Political strategies.................................................................................. 40 Concluding Remarks & Structure of Study ..................................................... 45 Chapter Structure.................................................................................. 46 Chapter 2 - the Rise & Rule of Reza S hah.............................. 46 Chapter 3: 1941-53 - Pluralism & the triumph of nationalism ....................................................................................... 47 Chapter 4 - the consolidation of pow er................................ 47 Chapter 5 - 1960-67: the White Revolution ............................. 48 Chapter 6 - 1967-77: Towards the Great Civilisation; the myth of Imperial Authority........................................................ 48 Defining the Ideological Parameters: The Rise and Rule of Reza Shah .............................................................. -50- Introduction .........................................................................................................-50- Background to the Rise of Reza Khan ............................................................-52- The Intelligentsia .................................................................................. -57- A Concept of Nationalism.....................................................................-61- Defining the Ideological param eters.................................................................-63- a) Nationalism:.......................................................................................-65- b) Modernisation: .................................................................................. -67- c) Dynastic Nationalism:....................................................................... -67- d) Militarism........................................................................................... -68- e) Traditionalism:.................................................................................. -69- The Rise & Rule of Reza S h ah ......................................................................... -70- The Construction of Power 1921-1926: Modernisation & Nationalism . -71- The Consolidation of Power: Nationalism and Modernisation...................... -83- 3 Institutionalising the dynasty - the politics of dynastic nationalism ............. -92- Conclusion ...........................................................................................................-98- 1941-53 - political pluralism and the ascendancy of nationalism....................... -101- Introduction ....................................................................................................-101- The Socio-Historic Context......................................................................... -103- The levels of political awareness........................................................-103- The Mass Media.................................................................................. -105- The Radio ........................................................................................... -108- The limits of plurality......................................................................... -109- Ideological Constructions................................................................................ -111- Nationalism:.........................................................................................- I ll- Ideological Development: Fragmentation and Re-invention .......................-112- Ideological fragmentation................................................................................ -113- The Impact of the Allied Invasion and Occupation:.........................-113- Tlie Tribal Revolts ................................................................................ -121- The Separatist Movements in Azerbaijan and Kurdistan.................. -123- Ideological Reconstruction..............................................................................-138- Redefining the parameters of Dynastic Nationalism: ....................-13 8- The Oil Nationalisation Crisis & the triumph of 'nationalism’: . -150- Concluding Remarks .......................................................................................-171- The Consolidation of Power 1953-60 ........................................................................-173- Introduction ...................................................................................................
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Interview with Bahman Jalali1
    11 Interview with Bahman Jalali1 By Catherine David2 Catherine David: Among all the Muslim countries, it seems that it was in Iran where photography was first developed immediately after its invention – and was most inventive. Bahman Jalali: Yes, it arrived in Iran just eight years after its invention. Invention is one thing, what about collecting? When did collecting photographs beyond family albums begin in Iran? When did gathering, studying and curating for archives and museum exhibitions begin? When did these images gain value? And when do the first photography collections date back to? The problem in Iran is that every time a new regime is established after any political change or revolution – and it has been this way since the emperor Cyrus – it has always tried to destroy any evidence of previous rulers. The paintings in Esfahan at Chehel Sotoon3 (Forty Pillars) have five or six layers on top of each other, each person painting their own version on top of the last. In Iran, there is outrage at the previous system. Photography grew during the Qajar era until Ahmad Shah Qajar,4 and then Reza Shah5 of the Pahlavi dynasty. Reza Shah held a grudge against the Qajars and so during the Pahlavi reign anything from the Qajar era was forbidden. It is said that Reza Shah trampled over fifteen thousand glass [photographic] plates in one day at the Golestan Palace,6 shattering them all. Before the 1979 revolution, there was only one book in print by Badri Atabai, with a few photographs from the Qajar era. Every other photography book has been printed since the revolution, including the late Dr Zoka’s7 book, the Afshar book, and Semsar’s book, all printed after the revolution8.
    [Show full text]
  • Iran 2019 International Religious Freedom Report
    IRAN 2019 INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM REPORT Executive Summary The constitution defines the country as an Islamic republic and specifies Twelver Ja’afari Shia Islam as the official state religion. It states all laws and regulations must be based on “Islamic criteria” and an official interpretation of sharia. The constitution states citizens shall enjoy human, political, economic, and other rights, “in conformity with Islamic criteria.” The penal code specifies the death sentence for proselytizing and attempts by non-Muslims to convert Muslims, as well as for moharebeh (“enmity against God”) and sabb al-nabi (“insulting the Prophet”). According to the penal code, the application of the death penalty varies depending on the religion of both the perpetrator and the victim. The law prohibits Muslim citizens from changing or renouncing their religious beliefs. The constitution also stipulates five non-Ja’afari Islamic schools shall be “accorded full respect” and official status in matters of religious education and certain personal affairs. The constitution states Zoroastrians, Jews, and Christians, excluding converts from Islam, are the only recognized religious minorities permitted to worship and form religious societies “within the limits of the law.” The government continued to execute individuals on charges of “enmity against God,” including two Sunni Ahwazi Arab minority prisoners at Fajr Prison on August 4. Human rights nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) continued to report the disproportionately large number of executions of Sunni prisoners, particularly Kurds, Baluchis, and Arabs. Human rights groups raised concerns regarding the use of torture, beatings in custody, forced confessions, poor prison conditions, and denials of access to legal counsel.
    [Show full text]
  • Asala & ARF 'Veterans' in Armenia and the Nagorno-Karabakh Region
    Karabakh Christopher GUNN Coastal Carolina University ASALA & ARF ‘VETERANS’ IN ARMENIA AND THE NAGORNO-KARABAKH REGION OF AZERBAIJAN Conclusion. See the beginning in IRS- Heritage, 3 (35) 2018 Emblem of ASALA y 1990, Armenia or Nagorno-Karabakh were, arguably, the only two places in the world that Bformer ASALA terrorists could safely go, and not fear pursuit, in one form or another, and it seems that most of them did, indeed, eventually end up in Armenia (36). Not all of the ASALA veterans took up arms, how- ever. Some like, Alex Yenikomshian, former director of the Monte Melkonian Fund and the current Sardarapat Movement leader, who was permanently blinded in October 1980 when a bomb he was preparing explod- ed prematurely in his hotel room, were not capable of actually participating in the fighting (37). Others, like Varoujan Garabedian, the terrorist behind the attack on the Orly Airport in Paris in 1983, who emigrated to Armenia when he was pardoned by the French govern- ment in April 2001 and released from prison, arrived too late (38). Based on the documents and material avail- able today in English, there were at least eight ASALA 48 www.irs-az.com 4(36), AUTUMN 2018 Poster of the Armenian Legion in the troops of fascist Germany and photograph of Garegin Nzhdeh – terrorist and founder of Tseghakronism veterans who can be identified who were actively en- tia group of approximately 50 men, and played a major gaged in the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh (39), but role in the assault and occupation of the Kelbajar region undoubtedly there were more.
    [Show full text]
  • British Persian Studies and the Celebrations of the 2500Th Anniversary of the Founding of the Persian Empire in 1971
    British Persian Studies and the Celebrations of the 2500th Anniversary of the Founding of the Persian Empire in 1971 A thesis submitted to The University of Manchester for the degree of Master of Philosophy in the Faculty of Humanities. 2014 Robert Steele School of Arts, Languages and Cultures Contents Abstract ........................................................................................................................................................................ 4 Declaration .................................................................................................................................................................. 5 Copyright Statement ................................................................................................................................................ 5 Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................................................. 6 Introduction .......................................................................................................................................................................... 7 Objectives and Structure ............................................................................................................................................. 8 Literature Review .......................................................................................................................................................... 9 Statement on Primary Sources...............................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • English-126.Pdf
    2019 / 1398 ، بهار 126 ی شماره « آورد ره » ی فصلنامه 1 Page RAHAVARD Quarterly Persian & English Journal of Iranian Studies Issue 126, Spring 1398 / 2019 GOAL: Is to empowere our young generation with the richness of our Persian heritage, keep them informed of the history of the extraordinary people to whom they belong as they gain mighty wisdom from a western system that embraces them in the aftermath of the revolution and infuse them with the knowledge and ideals that inspire them. FINANCIAL: RAHAVARD is entirely supported by, Supscription dues, advertisers and RAHAVARD: contributions from its readers, and followers A Los Angeles-based Quarterly Bilingual who largely constitute the elite of the Iranians Journalof Iranian Studies, was founded by living in diaspora. HASSAN SHAHBAZ in 1981 in Los Angeles. DIGITAL RAHAVARD (ebook): In 2012 with the Rahavard, publishes scholarly articles in the encouragement & constant reminder of HOMA field of: Persian (Iranian) Studies (Literature, SARSHAR and Dr. FIROUZ NADERI RAHAVARD History, Politics, Culture, Society and beyond). English and Persian digital (ebook) was Its readers are well educated, well informed, launched as an online version of the publication business owners, scholars, intellectuals, at: www.rahavard.com. Since then it's appeal professors, politicians & philanthropists. has increased drastically, specifically by younger It's founder HASSAN SHAHBAZ passed away in generation and Iranians living in Iran. May 2006. Forming an Advisory Committee, ENGLISH RAHAVARD: In 2016 with the his widow Sholeh Shams Shahbaz has encouragements of H.E. ARDESHIR ZAHEDI, Dr. continued publishing. FIROUZ NADERI & the assistance of Dr. JANET Today, Rahavard has grown both in volume, AFARY, Cal State Santa Barbara (by providing subscription, and influence.
    [Show full text]
  • C01384460 Approved for Release: 2014/02/26
    C01384460 Approved for Release: 2014/02/26 APPLIND1X A . ;hose Dil? An Abbreviated History of the Anglo-Iranian Oil Dispute,-'194; -53 In 1372, the then Shah of Persia, rlaser ad-Din, in return for much needed cash, gave to Baron Paul Julius de Reuter. .'a concession to. exploit all his country's minerals (except for gold, silver, and precious stones'), all its forests and uncultivated land, and ail canals and irrigation works, as ;sell as a monopoly to construct railways and tranilways. Although the resulting uproar,-zsrac:.a11~ from neighboring Russiaraused this sweeping concession to be cancelled, de Reuter, who was a German Jew with British citizenship, persisted and by 1889 regained two parts of his original concession--the operation of a bank and the working of Persia's mines. Under the latter grant, de Reuter's men explored-for oil without great success, and the concession expired in 1999, 'the year the Baron died.` Persian oil right Shen passed to a British speculator, William Knox D'Arcy, whose first fortune had been made in Australian gold mines: The purchase price of the concession was about 50,000 pounds, and in 1903 the enterprise began to sell shares in "The First Exploitation Company." Exploratory drilling proceeded, and by 1904, two producing wells were in. a,+A - Shortly thereafter,Ainterest in oil was sharply stimulated by the efforts of Admiral Sir John Fisher, First Lord of the Admiralty, to convert the Royal Navy.from'burning coal to oil.. As a result, the Burmah Oil Company sought to become involved in eersian oil and, joining with D "lrcy and Lord Strathcona, formed the new Concessions Syndicate, L d, which endured un'ti'l 1907 when Burmah Oil bought D'Arcy out for 200„000 pounds cash and 900,000 pounds in shares.
    [Show full text]
  • Iran's Sunnis Resist Extremism, but for How Long?
    Atlantic Council SOUTH ASIA CENTER ISSUE BRIEF Iran’s Sunnis Resist Extremism, but for How Long? APRIL 2018 SCHEHEREZADE FARAMARZI ome fifteen million of Iran’s eighty million people are Sunni Muslims, the country’s largest religious minority. Politically and economically disadvantaged, these Sunnis receive relatively lit- tle attention compared with other minorities and are concen- Strated in border areas from Baluchistan in the southeast, to Kurdistan in the northwest, to the Persian Gulf in the south. The flare up of tensions between regional rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran over Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen would seem to encourage interest in the state of Iranian Sunnis, if only because the Saudis present them- selves as defenders of the world’s Sunnis, and Iran the self-appointed champion of the Shia cause. So how do Iran’s Sunnis fare in a state where Shia theology governs al- most every aspect of life? How have they been affected by this regional rivalry? Are they stuck between jihadist and other extreme regional Sunni movements on the one hand, and the Shia regime’s aggres- sive policies on the other? Is there a danger that these policies could push some disgruntled Iranian Sunnis toward militancy and terrorism? A tour of Turkmen Sahra in the northeast of Iran near the Caspian Sea, and in Hormozgan on the Persian Gulf in 2015 and 2016 revealed some of the answers. More recent interviews were conducted by phone and in person in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and with European-based experts. “Being a Sunni in Iran means pain, fear, anxiety, restrictions,”1 said a young The Atlantic Council’s South woman in a southern Hormozgan village.
    [Show full text]
  • The Effects of Nationalism on Territorial Integrity Among Armenians and Serbs Nina Patelic
    Florida State University Libraries Electronic Theses, Treatises and Dissertations The Graduate School 2008 The Effects of Nationalism on Territorial Integrity Among Armenians and Serbs Nina Patelic Follow this and additional works at the FSU Digital Library. For more information, please contact [email protected] FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES THE EFFECTS OF NATIONALISM ON TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY AMONG ARMENIANS AND SERBS By Nina Patelic A Thesis submitted to the Department of International Affairs in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts Degree Awarded: Spring Semester, 2008 The members of the Committee approve the thesis of Nina Pantelic, defended on September 28th, 2007. ------------------------------- Jonathan Grant Professor Directing Thesis ------------------------------- Peter Garretson Committee Member ------------------------------- Mark Souva Committee Member The Office of Graduate Studies has verified and approved the above named committee members. ii ACKOWLEDGEMENTS This paper could not have been written without the academic insight of my thesis committee members, as well as Dr. Kotchikian. I would also like to thank my parents Dr. Svetlana Adamovic and Dr. Predrag Pantelic, my grandfather Dr. Ljubisa Adamovic, my sister Ana Pantelic, and my best friend, Jason Wiggins, who have all supported me over the years. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract…………………………………………………………………………………..v INTRODUCTION……………………………………………………………………….1 1. NATIONALISM, AND HOW IT DEVELOPED IN SERBIA AND ARMENIA...6 2. THE CONFLICT OVER KOSOVO AND METOHIJA…………………………...27 3. THE CONFLICT OVER NAGORNO KARABAKH……………………………..56 CONCLUSION………………………………………………………………...……….89 SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY…………………………………………………………93 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH………………………………………………………….101 iv ABSTRACT Nationalism has been a driving force in both nation building and in spurring high levels of violence. As nations have become the norm in modern day society, nationalism has become detrimental to international law, which protects the powers of sovereignty.
    [Show full text]
  • Dire Straits for Commercial Shipping Understanding Insurance Coverage in Potential Choke Points
    INSIGHTS NOVEMBER 2018 Dire straits for commercial shipping Understanding insurance coverage in potential choke points Concerns with the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Strait of Hormuz The Bab el-Mandeb Strait (or “Gate of Tears”) is at the southern entrance to the Red Sea. This narrow waterway must be navigated by all commercial vessels trading between Europe and Asia in order to avoid the far longer, time-consuming, and thus more costly routes around southern Africa or through the Panama Canal. Perim Island is situated close to the Yemeni side of the strait, which means that most international shipping, both north and southbound, keeps to designated shipping lanes to the west, or Djibouti With over 90% of international trade being carried by sea, side, of this island. The water there is much the safety of commercial maritime shipping is essential deeper, but the channel is only about 16 miles (25 kilometers) wide at its to the global economy. Much of the world’s trade travels narrowest point. However, the entire along maritime highways between Asia, Europe, and North strait is easily within range of land-based America. Most of these routes are sailed through wide missiles and of small, attacking boats. open waters, but there are a few places where narrows, Although complete closure of the strait is straits, or other restricting features must be navigated. considered unlikely, threats on commercial vessels using it may be enough to quickly produce far-reaching economic effects that could have serious implications for Should safe navigation through these vital waters become continued insurance cover.
    [Show full text]
  • BR IFIC N° 2683 Index/Indice
    BR IFIC N° 2683 Index/Indice International Frequency Information Circular (Terrestrial Services) ITU - Radiocommunication Bureau Circular Internacional de Información sobre Frecuencias (Servicios Terrenales) UIT - Oficina de Radiocomunicaciones Circulaire Internationale d'Information sur les Fréquences (Services de Terre) UIT - Bureau des Radiocommunications Part 1 / Partie 1 / Parte 1 Date/Fecha 30.11.2010 Description of Columns Description des colonnes Descripción de columnas No. Sequential number Numéro séquenciel Número sequencial BR Id. BR identification number Numéro d'identification du BR Número de identificación de la BR Adm Notifying Administration Administration notificatrice Administración notificante 1A [MHz] Assigned frequency [MHz] Fréquence assignée [MHz] Frecuencia asignada [MHz] Name of the location of Nom de l'emplacement de Nombre del emplazamiento de 4A/5A transmitting / receiving station la station d'émission / réception estación transmisora / receptora 4B/5B Geographical area Zone géographique Zona geográfica 4C/5C Geographical coordinates Coordonnées géographiques Coordenadas geográficas 6A Class of station Classe de station Clase de estación Purpose of the notification: Objet de la notification: Propósito de la notificación: Intent ADD-addition MOD-modify ADD-ajouter MOD-modifier ADD-añadir MOD-modificar SUP-suppress W/D-withdraw SUP-supprimer W/D-retirer SUP-suprimir W/D-retirar No. BR Id Adm 1A [MHz] 4A/5A 4B/5B 4C/5C 6A Part Intent 1 110106403 ARG 7470.0000 VILLA PARANACITO ARG 58W40'03'' 33S42'52'' FX 1 ADD
    [Show full text]
  • Nixon, Kissinger, and the Shah: the Origins of Iranian Primacy in the Persian Gulf
    Roham Alvandi Nixon, Kissinger, and the Shah: the origins of Iranian primacy in the Persian Gulf Article (Accepted version) (Refereed) Original citation: Alvandi, Roham (2012) Nixon, Kissinger, and the Shah: the origins of Iranian primacy in the Persian Gulf. Diplomatic history, 36 (2). pp. 337-372. ISSN 1467-7709 DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-7709.2011.01025.x © 2012 The Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations (SHAFR) This version available at: http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/32743/ Available in LSE Research Online: March 2012 LSE has developed LSE Research Online so that users may access research output of the School. Copyright © and Moral Rights for the papers on this site are retained by the individual authors and/or other copyright owners. Users may download and/or print one copy of any article(s) in LSE Research Online to facilitate their private study or for non-commercial research. You may not engage in further distribution of the material or use it for any profit-making activities or any commercial gain. You may freely distribute the URL (http://eprints.lse.ac.uk) of the LSE Research Online website. This document is the author’s final manuscript accepted version of the journal article, incorporating any revisions agreed during the peer review process. Some differences between this version and the published version may remain. You are advised to consult the publisher’s version if you wish to cite from it. roham alvandi Nixon, Kissinger, and the Shah: The Origins of Iranian Primacy in the Persian Gulf* On the morning of May 31, 1972, the shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, received U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • In the Eyes of the Iranian Intellectuals of The
    “The West” in the Eyes of the Iranian Intellectuals of the Interwar Years (1919–1939) Mehrzad Boroujerdi n 1929, after a lecture by Arnold Toynbee (from the notes of Denison Ross, the fi rst director of the School of Oriental and African Studies) on the subject of the modern- ization of the Middle East, a commentator said, Persia has not been modernized and has not in reality been Westernized. Look at the map: there is Persia right up against Russia. For the past hundred years, living cheek by jowl with Russia, Persia has maintained her complete independence of Russian thought. Although sixty to seventy percent of her trade for the past hundred years has been with Russia, Persia remains aloof in spirit and in practice. For the past ten years, Persia has been living alongside the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics, and has remained free from any impregnation by their basic ideas. Her freedom is due to her cultural independence. For the safety of Persia it is essential, if she is to continue to develop on her own lines, that she should not attempt modernization, and I do not think that the attempt is being made. It is true that the Persians have adopted motor-cars and in small way railways. But let us remember that the Persians have always been in the forefront in anything of that sort. The fi rst Eastern nation to enter the Postal Union and to adopt a system of telegraphs was Persia, which country was also among the fi rst of the Eastern nations to join the League of Nations and to become an active member.
    [Show full text]