Revolution in Iran 1978-1979: Assessments and Reassessments upon the Fortieth Anniversary

Middle East Centre seminar with Touraj Atabaki (International Institute of Social History, Amsterdam), Stephanie Cronin (Oxford University, Siavush Randjbar Daemi (University of St Andrews). Chaired by Eskandar Sadeghi-Boroujerdi (University of Oxford) Paper titles and abstracts: Stephanie Cronin (University of Oxford) - The Global 1970s and the Iranian Revolution. The Iranian revolution of 1977-79 has usually been analysed within the confines of national history. This talk rather places both the revolution itself, and the new regime which eventually emerged from it, in their global contexts and historical periods. Beginning with some comments on the nature of revolutions in general, the talk then locates the Iranian revolution in the context of the 'Red Decade' of the 1970s, and the formation of the Islamic republic in the succeeding global period - one of neo-liberalism, authoritarianism and social conservatism. Siavush Randjbar​ Daemi (University of St Andrews) - Bystanders or Participants? The Non-Clerical opposition to the Shah in 1977-1979​ ​ Most scholarly accounts of the Iranian Revolution have focused on the role and agency of the clergy led by Ayatollah Khomeini and its close lay allies. This talk will provide an overview instead of the initiatives and agency of the non-clerical opposition to the Shah from the start of Jimmy-Kerasi in 1977 to the victory of the Revolution. It will note the non-clerical opposition’s role in the initial stages of the revolt against the monarchical regime, as well as the unfruitful attempts by the Shah to bring one of its main components, the National Front, into government. Touraj Atabaki (International Institute of Social History, Amsterdam) - Was the Iranian Revolution (1978-1979) Inevitable?