Making Sense of Iranian Society, Culture, and Business

Chapter 4

The Various Causes and Features of the Islamic Revolution

The Islamic Revolution and Its Charismatic Leader

Despite economic growth and social development, there was an increasingly popular opposition to the Shah and his policies during the 1970s. The opposition came from a wide range of political and ideological orientations, but it was led by Ayatollah Khomeini who lived in exile in Iraq. In 1977 the declarations of Ayatollah Khomeini were circulated in Iranian cities and his name was synonymous with opposition to Pahlavi’s regime. On January 9, 1978, a group of religious students in the city of Qom protested the visit of the American President, Jimmy Carter and demanded the return of Ayatollah Khomeini to the country. Shortly ...