ASPECTS OF THE HISTORY OF EUROPE AND THE

MIDDLE EAST
WEEK 6
IRAN AND REZA KHAN 1924-1941
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SECTION
REGIME
SECTION
SECTION
SECTION

A: ESTABLISHMENT AND NATURE OF THE

B: ATTEMPTS TO MODERNIZE
C: WESTERN INFLUENCES
D: IB ESSAY QUESTIONS

SECTION A
THE ESTABLISHMENT AND THE NATURE OF THE
REGIME
(in other words, how he came to rule and the overall feel
and character of his rule without getting into specific
details about policies)
(a) how he took power
The north-west region of Azerbaijan was occupied by thre
Russians during World War 1. German attempts to win over
Persia meant Britain has a permanent presnece in the south
throughout the war.
The war toppled the Qajar dynasty of Ahmad Shah into lots of
separatist revolts.
They were excluded from the Paris Peace Settlement due to the
fact that the British had concluded a bi-lateral agreement
which would put Iran under British protection.
Persian nationalists, thanks to the Cossack Brigade commander
Reza Khan, managed to fight to stop the ratification of this
agreement as well as other rebel forces, and retain the
auhtority of Tehran.
Reza Shah was a soldier who helped preserve some sense of
naitonal indentity and avoid disintegration (in immediate postwar years). The Russian Revolution and the dismissal of many
Russian officers who were running the Iranian army gave him
his lucky break and he stppped in to a position of authority. By
1921 he had carried out a bloodless coup and forced Ahmad
Shah to appoint him Commander-in-Chief. By 1923 he was
Primeminister, and by 1925 King (via parliamentary vote). He
chose to name his dynasty Pahlavi (this was the name of the
language spoken in Persia before the Muslim conquest).
(b) how he consolidated his power (in other words,
started to put down more solid foundations to his rule)
He centralised the army then used it to crush all the rebels.,
inlcudng Sheikh Khazal in the south.

This made him popular and legitimate.

As he was never a tribal chief, so had no tribal support. Via
nationalism and modernistation he chose the army and the
middle class intelligentsia as his support base. He increased
the size of the army and gave them special privileges.

Middle class were won over by promises of naitonal

rebirth and unity, suppression of ethnic differences and a
break with the past.
He outlawed ethnic languages and dress.
He revived the Pres-Islamic myth of Iran by 1935 Persia was
called Iran
His rule was very disciplinarian.
He used nationalism to intodcue modernity and bring about
change
But he never managed to break away from tradition and those
who supported the monarchical system and the Islamic
authority of the ulema.
Historiography: Ali Ansari Reza Shahs reformist zeal was
tempered by respect for tradition.
(This is a key point to remember as qustions often ask about
his success as a modernizer.)

SECTION B
ATTEMPTS TO MODERNIZE
(CONTINUTIY AND CHANGES)
CONTINUITY
1924 March 4th the ulema declare that a republic is
contrary to Islam.
Reza Shah set up a dynasty monarchical and with a
nationalistic justification.
Compulsory Military Service Law clergy opposed it. So
he exemoted theological students until he felt more
secure.
He attacked the traditional land-owning elite and
confiscated much of their property. But the maj source of
welath remained the land.
No new civil liberties, so not so different to the Qajar
dynasty in that way. Feedom of press severely restricted
and all opposition totally supressed. Parliament was a
rubber stamp.
Dynastic nationalism replaced feudal relations
Created a Persian identity and so broke with the past.
History books emphasized pre-Islamic past. Persian
language de-Arabicised
Tried to break off foreign influnce of Russia and UK. But
UK always strong.
1933 negotiation with UK: Irans royalties from oil rose
from 16 to 20% but UK got 60 more years.
Saadabad Pact to strengthen relations with Turkey, Iraq
and Afghanistan.

SECTION C
WESTERN INFLUENCES
He did modernize the state.
Centralised army. 1925 = 40,000 1941 = 400,000
Social mobility in it, and foreign education. Less need for
tribes and private armies.
Only later did he beging to attack clergy, through
banning the turban
1936 he banned women from wearing the veil.
State was non existent when he took over. He created a
modern bureaucracy.
A new tax on sugar and tea balanced the budget . Bank
Melli Iran formed. It took over from British Imperial
Bank.
1927 new Ministry of Justice to draw up new civic
codes. Clergy still had some control.
Education
1927: new secondary schools
1928 foreign scholarships
1934 Tehran Uni set up.
Law obliging the choice of a name and its registration.
1929 Trans Iranian railway finished.
1925-194 12,000 km of roads built.
1934 influenced by Ataturk, he introduced new dress
codes.: western clothes and a hat.
1934 Women allowed to go to uni.
1941 he refused Allied help. They invaded and forced
him to abdicate.
SOME HISTORIOGRPAHICAL OPINIONS ON REZA SHAH

Cyrus Ghani described Reza Shah as the father of

modern Iran and the architect of the countrys twentieth
century history.
Sutton Elwell reza Shah was the right man thrown up at
the right time in a country that needed such a man.
the secret of my success was that I never consulted
anyone (Reza Shahs last speech.)
Ali Ansani a modern version of the despots of old,
harnessing all the tools and the institutions of the
modern age to his dnyastic ambitions.
a transitional figure, necessary but defintiely transient.

SECTION D
IB ESSAY QUESTIONS
Note how the first three questions are basically the same question. For they are all in
one way or another about the programme of modernisation carried out in Iran by Reza
Shah. They all ask you explain and assess it.

1. With what degree of success socially, politically and

economically did Reza Shah Pahlavi modernise Iran after the 1925
coup?
This is not a solely political question, answers must also consider the
impact of the regime on
society and the economy.
[8 to 10 marks] could be awarded for reasonable accounts of political
change.
[11 to 13 marks] answers will also examine areas such as education, the
role of the Ulema,
industrial, oil, banking etc.
[14 to 16+ marks] answers will address the limited effect of change on
Iranian society as a
whole with an emphasis on what he wanted to achieve and judgement as
to how modernized
Iran was by 1941.
Better answers may argue that modernisation of Iran was attributable to
his son in their
conclusions.
2. For what reasons, and with what consequences, did Reza Shah
undertake a programme of reforms in Iran 19261941?
Reza Shah had established the Pahlavi dynasty by 1926. His aim then was
to centralize and
modernize Iran along western European models. A centralized
bureaucratic state was
established, the law courts were secularized at the expense of religious
law, laws were passed
to symbolize Irans evolution into a modern state (banning the veil, ethnic
dress, polygamy
and divorce discouraged).
Economic development concentrating on industry and communications
but no land reform.
Financial developments had adverse effects on poorer sections of the
population. Iran unable
to reduce control of AngloIranian Oil Company until 1933.

Consequences: benefits to some sections of the population who flourished

in military and civil
service. Rural poor and religious elements disliked westernization.
Reform achieved because
of the essentially dictatorial nature of regime, which was deposed when
Allies invaded
in 1941.
[0 to 7 marks] General accounts of the establishment of the regime. No
focus on policies.
[8 to 10 marks] Accounts of the reform programme. Some
understanding of the reasons
behind reforms.
[11 to 13 marks] More detailed knowledge of reforms, clear
understanding of aims, limited
comment on consequences.
[14 to 16 marks] Clear understanding of both aims and consequences,
clearly highlighting the
variable impact on Iran.
[17+ marks] As above but also with informed comment on the fact that
reforms were to some
extent imposed from above and did not have major impact for most
Iranians.
3. In what ways, and with what success, did Reza Shah modernise
Iran between 1924 and 1941?
Pahlavi rule established 1926 Reza Shah had a vision of a strong unified
Iran, achievable by
modernisation and centralisation.
Methods:
Strengthening of law courts
Attempts to secularize society (banning the hijab, encouraging western
dress, polygamy and
divorce discouraged).
Attempts to modernize economy limited because of lack of land reform,
foreign influence still
strong (e.g. Anglo-Iranian Oil Company).
Very much a landlord regime where there was some change it was
achieved because of the autocratic nature of the regime modernisation
was superficial in the period up to the war.
Success largely limited to maintaining the regime.
[0 to 7 marks] for unsubstantiated generalisations, inadequate general
answers or vague, inaccurate and irrelevant comments.

[8 to 10 marks] for narrative or descriptive accounts, unbalanced

answers or implicit or
undeveloped arguments.
[11 to 13 marks] for narrative framework with explicit focus on the
question. Arguments with
limited examples and analysis.
[14 to 16 marks] for analytical, well-focused, relevant, developed and
balanced answers: some may not address all aspects of the question.
[17+ marks] for fully analytical and relevant answers with detail,
insight, perceptive comments andperhaps different interpretations, which
address all aspects of the question.
4. Compare and contrast the rule of Ibn Saud in Saudi Arabia and
Reza Shah Pahlavi in Iran.
The careers of both men will be known. Similarities . both authoritarian,
ruthless opponents,
could be credited with establishing the basis of modern states.
In both countries the economies remained undeveloped, agriculture
unmodernised, no major
impact on the social structure, attempted to improve communications.
Differences . in Iran a secular legal structure established, in Saudi Arabia
the Sharia remained
basic legal structure. Ulema influential, while in Iran they lost influence.
Reza Shah
overthrown whereas Ibn Saud remained dominant until his death.
Reza Shah was a soldier who helped preserve some sense of
naitonal indentity and avoid disintegration (in immediate post-war
years). The Russian Revolution and the dismissal of many Russian
officers who were running the Iranian army gave him his lucky
break and he stppped in to a position of authority.
[7 marks] maximum if only one person is discussed.
[10 to 12 marks] for narratives of both men.s careers . may be some
attempt at comparison.
[14 to 16 marks] balanced answers with both similarities and
differences clearly established.
[17+ marks] developed analysis possibly pointing out that some
differences only superficial,
e.g. loss of influence of Ulema in Iran limited to western elite.