

Restless Nation | The Red-Green Alliance: The Making of Modern Iran (Part 2)
Aug 6, 2025
Abbas Milani, a historian and director of Iranian studies at Stanford University, delves into the crucial role of Ayatollah Khomeini in toppling Iran's 2,500-year monarchy. The discussion unfolds the Red-Green Alliance, revealing how liberals and leftists fueled Khomeini's revolution, a partnership with consequences that resonate today. Milani illuminates Khomeini's innovative communication strategies and the brutal realities that followed the revolution, highlighting the enduring struggle for freedom and democracy in Iran.
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Khomeini's Radical Background
- Khomeini, born into hardship, contrasted the privileged Shah, fueling his resentment and political drive.
- This background shaped his austere and radical opposition to the Shah's reforms threatening clerical power.
Khomeini's Communication Innovation
- Khomeini used modern technology and unique mass communication tactics to spread his revolutionary message widely.
- He created a national network for distributing sermons that energized mass mobilization in Iran.
Khomeini's Theocratic Vision
- Khomeini's 1970 book "Islamic Government" outlined his plan for a theocratic regime opposed to democracy.
- He framed his vision with anti-Jewish and anti-imperialist rhetoric, signaling his real political ambitions early.