UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones 8-2010 The Culture of revolution: Revolutionary transformation in Iran Autoosa Elizabeth Kojoori-Saatchi University of Nevada, Las Vegas Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/thesesdissertations Part of the International Relations Commons, and the Islamic World and Near East History Commons Repository Citation Kojoori-Saatchi, Autoosa Elizabeth, "The Culture of revolution: Revolutionary transformation in Iran" (2010). UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones. 814. http://dx.doi.org/10.34917/2153789 This Thesis is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by Digital Scholarship@UNLV with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Thesis in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. 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THE CULTURE OF REVOLUTION: REVOLUTIONARY TRANSFORMATION IN IRAN by Autoosa Elizabeth Kojoori-Saatchi Bachelor of Arts University of Nevada, Las Vegas 2005 A thesis document submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Department of Political Science Master of Arts in Political Science College of Liberal Arts Graduate College University of Nevada, Las Vegas August 2010 Copyright by Autoosa Elizabeth Kojoori-Saatchi 2010 All Rights Reserved THE GRADUATE COLLEGE We recommend the thesis prepared under our supervision by Autoosa Elizabeth Kojoori-Saatchi entitled The Culture of Revolution: Revolutionary Transformation in Iran be accepted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Political Science Mehran Tamadonfar, Committee Chair Dennis Pirages, Committee Member Kenneth Fernandez, Committee Member Nasser Daneshvary, Graduate Faculty Representative Ronald Smith, Ph. D., Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies and Dean of the Graduate College August 2010 ii ABSTRACT The Culture of Revolution: Revolutionary Transformation in Iran by Autoosa Elizabeth Kojoori-Saatchi Dr. Mehran Tamadonfar, Thesis Examination Chair Professor of Political Science University of Nevada, Las Vegas The current challenges to the authority of the Islamic Republic and mass demonstrations in opposition to the presidential elections of 2009 in Iran, have raised the specter of another revolution in the country. In the 20 th century, the country underwent two major revolutions: the Constitutional revolution during the first decade of the century and the Islamic revolution in the late 1970s. In this thesis, I will examine why revolutions occur in Iran with greater frequency than other societies. By relying on a historiography and contemporary empirical evidence, I will explore the cultural underpinnings of the Iranian revolutionary worldview embedded in its long history of monarchism, combined with the Shi’a sense of political activism tied to a cultural sense of justice, fairness, and rejection of oppression. To many, the question is not whether or not Iran will experience another revolution. It is rather when that transformation will occur. In this thesis, I will argue that mass mobilization, especially in response to political opposition to injustice, is a common cultural feature of Iranians. Thus, one may very well expect that the current public reactions to the regime will most likely result in another revolution, marking the end of the Islamic republic in light of its repressive policies. iii This study, in contrast to earlier examinations of political transformation in Iran, is largely focused on the cultural explanations rather than institutional and external dynamics. It will, hopefully, provide an insight into the dynamics of change in undemocratic developing systems in search of indigenous models of development. iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The completion of this thesis would not have been possible without the support of my wonderful thesis chair, Dr. Mehran Tamadonfar. It has been an honor to serve as his graduate assistant while working on my masters degree and I truly appreciate all the assistance he has provided to me throughout this difficult journey. Thank you so much Dr. Tamadonfar! I would also like to thank the Dr. Dennis Pirages, Dr. Kenneth Fernandez and Dr. Nasser Daneshvary for serving on my thesis committee, and helping me throughout the process. This certainly would not have been possible without my fabulous committee. Thank you so much! It is also very important to acknowledge Susie Lafrentz and Melissa Rodriguez of the Political Science department for all their help. I honestly would not know what to do without them. You ladies are great! I want to thank my father David Kojoori for supporting me both financially and mentally throughout this process and for motivating me to pursue my education, just as he did himself 35+ years ago. I hope to one day be as smart as him and contribute to this world just as he has. I love you baba! My mother Jasmine Radnia for understanding why I was unable to visit her as much as I would like to during the thesis writing process. You are the best Mom ever! I would also like to thank my brother Khashiar Kojoori for helping me with ideas over the phone and supporting my academic endeavor. Last but not least I would like to thank my amazing husband, Vahid Saatchi. Vahid has inspired me in a way I simply can’t put into words. His creativity, love and desire for me to succeed has truly enabled me to grow. I love you baby! v TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT.......................................................................................................................iii AKNOWLEDEGMENTS.................................................................................................. V INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................. 1 CHAPTER 1 POLITICAL CULTURE AND REVOLUTION........................................ 7 Conceptualizing Revolution........................................................................................ 7 Revolutions in Theoretical Perspectives................................................................ 9 Radical Perspectives ......................................................................................... 9 Post Marxist Approaches ................................................................................ 10 Structural Functionalism................................................................................. 12 Cultural Politics ............................................................................................. 13 Conceptualizing Culture .......................................................................................... 13 Defining Political Culture ................................................................................... 15 Political Culture and Political Behavior ................................................................. 17 Culture and Revolutionary Behavior: Theoretical Considerations........................... 18 Cultural theories of Revolution: Problems and Prospects ........................................ 20 CHAPTER 2 IRAN’S REVOLUTIONARY CULTURE: MONARCHISM, NATIONALISM, SHI’ISM AND SOCIAL JUSTICE ................................................... 23 Monarchist Roots of Iranian Political Culture ........................................................ 24 Nationalist Roots of Iranian Political Culture .......................................................... 31 Shi’a Roots of Iranian Political Culture ................................................................... 34 The Shi’a Religious Establishment .......................................................................... 37 The Political Roots of Social Justice ....................................................................... 40 CHAPTER 3 HISTORICAL ANTECEDENTS TO THE IRANIAN REVOLUTION ... 45 The Tobacco Rebellion.............................................................................................. 45 The Merchant class and The Tobacco Protest ...................................................... 50 The Ulama and the Tobacco Protest ..................................................................... 51 The Persian Constitutional Revolution ..................................................................... 54 Economic Downturn ............................................................................................. 55 Emergence of Iranian Intelligentsia...................................................................... 55 Ulama, Merchant and Intellectual Class Cooperation .......................................... 56 Oil Nationalization................................................................................................ 66 The 1953 Coup: An End to the Mussadegh Era ........................................................ 68 CHAPTER 4 THE 1979 REVOLUTION......................................................................... 70 Roots of the Revolution ............................................................................................. 70 Land Reform and Move toward