The Islamic Revolution of 1979 is considered one of the most influential political religious events in world history.Image Credit source: AI Picture
Everything is not going well in Iran. These days this country is under siege from inside as well as outside. Inside the country, people are protesting against the government, while outside the country, countries like America are making statements against it every day. Threatening to take action. No one should shy away from saying that this country is currently reminding of the Islamic Revolution that took place 47 years ago, when the common people overthrew their ruler. Today again the same situation seems to be happening. The only difference is that now the people of the country are standing against the Islamic government which had established itself 47 years ago.
The Islamic Revolution of 1979 is considered one of the most influential political religious events in world history. This revolution not only ended Iran’s centuries-old monarchy, but also deeply influenced the politics of the Middle East, the strategy of Western countries, and the direction of Islamic political ideology. Thousands of deaths occurred.In the year 2026, 47 years have passed since this historical event.With this excuse, let us know what were the five main reasons behind the Islamic Revolution in Iran?
1- Shah’s autocratic monarchy and centralization of power
The biggest reason for the Islamic Revolution in Iran was the autocratic governance system of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. After gaining a strong position in power in 1953, Shah gradually weakened democratic institutions. Parliament and the judiciary remained nominal, while real power was confined to the hands of the Shah and his close courtiers.
Political parties were banned, dissent was considered treason and those who protested faced jail or exile. The public began to realize that their voice was not reaching the corridors of power. This centralized and oppressive form of monarchy became the main reason for people’s anger.
Shah Mohammad Raza Pahlavi. Photo: Getty Images
2- Intelligence agency SAVAK and the politics of repression
Shah’s intelligence agency SAVAK played a big role in maintaining power. This agency kept strict surveillance on opposition leaders, students, religious scholars and intellectuals. Arrest without trial, torture and disappearances were common.
Due to the fear of SAVAK, open debate and criticism had almost ended in society. This repression further fueled anger and dissatisfaction among the public. People began to believe that peaceful political reforms were impossible and only a mass movement could bring about change.
Picture of the era of Islamic Revolution, when the streets descended upon Tehran. Photo: Getty Images
3- Westernization and crisis on Islamic identity
Shah adopted a policy of rapid westernization in the name of modernizing Iran. Western values were promoted in education, dress, law and social life. Under the White Revolution launched in the 1960s, land reform, women’s rights and industrialization were advanced. Although these reforms were somewhat progressive, they were seen as impositions on religious leadership and traditional society. Islamic scholars felt that Iran’s religious and cultural identity was being deliberately weakened. Anti-Shah ideas started spreading rapidly in mosques and madrassas.
4- Dependence on America and foreign interference
An important reason for the Islamic Revolution in Iran was the increasing influence of America and Western powers in the country. Shah was considered a close ally of America. The Iranian people never forgot the role of the American intelligence agency in ousting the government of Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddek in 1953. Oil resources, military agreements, and the presence of foreign advisers reinforced the perception that the king was prioritizing American interests over Iran’s interests. Due to this, opposition to America gradually turned into opposition to Shah. During the revolution, slogans like ‘Down with America’ were a symbol of this sentiment.
5- Economic inequality and social injustice
Despite the immense income from oil, economic inequality was increasing rapidly in Iran. A rich class in the cities was living a life of luxury, while the condition of the rural areas and urban poor did not improve much. Inflation, unemployment and corruption were big problems for the common people. The benefits of Shah’s development model remained limited to a limited section only. This created a feeling in the society that the system is for the rich and those close to power, not for the common citizens.
Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Photo: Getty Images
Islamic leadership and the role of Ayatollah Khomeini
Amidst all these reasons, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini emerged as an alternative leadership. He described Islam as not just a religion but a medium of social justice and political resistance. Despite being in exile, his speeches and messages reached Iran through cassette tapes and organized the public. There were widespread mass movements, strikes and demonstrations in 1978–79. The Shah ultimately abdicated in January 1979, and with the return of Khomeini in February, Iran became an Islamic republic.
In the Islamic Republic, which was formed on the basis of big dreams, the people are now again having to face all the problems which they had to face during the Shah’s rule. At that time America was Iran’s friend but today it remains Iran’s enemy. Iran’s economic condition is becoming weaker day by day. That is why people are on the streets. The special thing is that Shah’s son has the support of America. He hopes that he will again sit on his father’s chair and run the government. However, it is not that easy.
Iran’s Islamic Revolution was not the result of a single event or person, but was the explosion of decades of accumulated political repression, cultural discontent, foreign intervention, and economic inequality. Even after 47 years, this revolution remains an important reference in global politics.
Even today, Iran’s policies, its relations with America and the geopolitics of the Middle East are understood in the shadow of this historic revolution. The Islamic Revolution showed that when power is cut off from the aspirations of the people, change becomes inevitable.
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