Page 307 - Encyclopedia Of World History Vol IV

1608 berkshire encyclopedia of world history

of the constitution, especially when one notes how the spread of Communist ideology in Iran, particularly
deputies of the Majles (Parliament) were handpicked and through the popularity of the Tudeh (the masses) Party,
how the appointments of the ministers were based upon the U.S. CIA and British intelligence executed a military
personal loyalty to the shah (sovereign), not to the general coup d’etat against Dr. Mosaddeq’s government in
public. In addition, events brought about change to the August of 1953. After the coup the shah was returned to
political atmosphere of Iran during World War II. Ger- Iran from his self-exile and resumed control over the
many invaded the Soviet Union, and Iran, having already nation. He also settled the oil dispute through a consor-
declared neutrality, refused the Soviet and British request tium of eight European and U.S. companies by agreeing
that the ally forces be allowed to transport lend-lease mate- to fifty-fifty profit sharing by the Anglo-Iranian Oil Com-
rial through its territory to the Russians. This refusal by pany. With the throne restored and the support of the
Iran turned the request into an ultimatum and eventually United States, the shah began to take extreme measures
led to invasions and occupation by England and Russia. to ensure the longevity of his dynasty. The first step
Reza Shah was forced into exile and replaced with his toward this goal was the creation of an internal security
twenty-two-year-old son, Muhammad Reza Shah. force, with the help of the U.S. CIA and FBI, known as
The young shah’s lack of political experience inaugu- “SAVAK” (Sazeman-e Amniyyat va Ettela’at-e Keshvar or
rated a period of political freedom that subsequently pro- Organization for State Intelligence and Security). Its aim,
duced organized political parties with the authorization for all intents and purposes, was to crush and demoral-
to publish their own newspapers, naturally giving birth ize opposition of any political nature, manipulate the
to a new era of ideological rivalry between political con- behavior of all citizens, and control and redirect public
tenders. This rivalry ultimately underwent a series of opinion in the interest of the regime.
internal conflicts among the nationalists who dominated In 1958, in response to mounting pressure for democ-
the Majles under the leadership of Dr. Mohammad racy, the shah created a two-party system consisting of the
Mosaddeq and the pro-shah faction. To consolidate the Melliyun (Nationalist) and Mardom (People) parties, nei-
nationalists’ position in the government, Dr. Mosaddeq ther of which had the worthiness of an opposition party.
in 1949 created the National Front, a coalition repre- However, in 1975 the two-party system merged into a
senting different groups and political parties. Its primary single-party system known as “Rastakhiz” (resurgence),
goal was to restrict foreign interests, particularly the with membership required for all government employees
British domination and exploitation of the Iranian oil and other people eligible to vote. Elections to the Majles
industry, as well as to safeguard the 1906 constitution were held; however, candidates had to have approval of
that restricted the power of the monarch. The National SAVAK.Therefore, true representation of the people, via
Front’s popularity reached great heights when Dr. parliament, never emerged under the shah’s regime.
Mosaddeq gained the approval of the Majles to nation- Mass censorship of television broadcasting, newspaper
alize the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company in 1951 and soon circulation, books, and journals and imprisonment of
after became the prime minister of Iran. British officials intellectuals, students, and trade unionists boiled over
called for a boycott of Iranian oil. Through worldwide into total political frustration, resulting in mass demon-
diplomatic maneuvers, major oil companies boycotted strations, strikes, and armed resistance against the shah’s
Iranian oil.This boycott nearly brought the Iranian econ- regime by the late 1970s.
omy to a standstill. The economic hardship of the early
1950s caused a severe strain on the implementation of all Modernization/
Mosaddeq’s promised domestic reforms and, in turn, Westernization
commenced a decline in his popularity. The oil settlement of 1953 gave the shah the revenue to
Fearing the spread of nationalization of domestic continue his father’s aspirations of modernization. Since
industries throughout the Middle East, along with the the First Seven-Year Plan (1948–1955) did not achieve