Reza Shah’s rise and rule

1. Reza Shah’s rise and rule 1921-41

2. Constitutional Revolution; 1905-11 • Revolution led by an “awkward coalition” (C) of bazaar merchants, ulama and radical reformers • Spark: the D’Arcy oil concession, capitulations, loans from Europe and Shah’s economic policy  European economic penetration • 1905: Large protest movement • 1906: Shah called for the creation of a constituent assembly (Majilis)

3. Majlis • Oct. 1906: The first Majlis met • The Fundamental Law; • legislature granted final authority over loans, concessions, treaties and budgets • The Supplementary Fundamental Laws; • rights of citizens defined, legislature granted authority over the appointment and dismissal of ministers • TwelverShi’ism official religion and a religious “supreme committee” had the final say over new laws – the gained the right to review and verify that laws conformed to the Shari’ah

4. Chaos and civil war; 1907- • Deteriorating economic situation; inflation, high food prices  lower-class discontent • Mass support for Qajar restoration • Entente between Russia and Britain  divided Iran into spheres of influence  constitutional government had failed in preventing European influence • June 1908: Counterrevolution – the Cossack Brigade closed the Majlis, leading constitutionalists arrested and executed and royal authority reestablished • June 1908- May 1909: Civil War • Summer 1909: Two tribal forces entered Tehran, the Shah was deposed in favor of his son and the Majlis was reconvened

5. Second Majlis • August 1909 • The scene for constant friction in the “awkward coalition” of merchants, ulama and reformers • Government became paralyzed  tribal leaders stronger  law and order broke down in rural areas • 1911: British occupation of southern Iran to protect oil concession • 1911: Russia invaded the north – demanded dismissal of US financial adviser  granted after the prime minister and cabinet were dissolved • 1914: the Majlis suspended, Iran governed by ministers closely monitored by Russia and Britain, north and south under foreign occupation

6. Anglo-Persian Agreement • 1917: Russian Revolution  Russia temporarily removed from Iran • 1918-21; Britain’s interference in Iran increased to protect its oil interests and contain Bolshevism  attempted to stabilize the situation in their own favor • August 1919: the Anglo-Persian Agreement signed – Britain would give a loan and Iran would in return give Britain total control of its finances, army, economy and administration  de facto protectorate  Anti-foreign demonstrations broke out in major cities

7. The 1921 coup d’etat • February: Reza Khan led a contingent of the Cossack Brigade into Tehran, arrested prominent politicians and requested the appointment of Sayyid Zia Tabatabai as prime minister • The Shah agreed  new cabinet formed with Reza Khan as army commander and minister of defense/minister of war • May 1921: Sayyid Zia resigned • Huge budget increases for the armed forces approved by the Majlis – controlled by Reza Khan • 1923: Reza Khan appointed as prime minister • Shah went on vacation to Europe never to return… • 1925: The Qajar dynasty deposed and constituent assembly convened by the Majlis  voted to hand over he crown to Reza Khan’s family • 1926: The Pahlavi dynasty began

8. Reza Shah • Born into a Turkish speaking family in 1878; Caspian province • Educated in the military; joined the Cossack Brigade at a young age • Promoted to Colonel/Commander when the Russians left • Tall and “proud bearing”  “commanding presence”

9. Power base • Needed to obtain legitimacy and popularity • # 1 priority: Order and unity -> had to defeat rebels • # 2 priority: Create his own “tribe”  Control of army • 1926: Universal conscription law passed • Close relationship to the officer corps  Control of the bureaucracy • Centralized power  increase bureaucracy; cadre of loyal civil servants  Skillful use of court patronage • Vast landholdings, hotels, casinos and charities used to gain supporters

10. Ruling principles Tradition and continuity • Did not intend to restructure the existing political order; maintained the monarchy and appeased the ulama • Majlis reduced to a rubber stamp for his legislation • Kept the constitution, but “simply ignored” if necessary • Personal power maintained by censorship, abolition of opposition parties, banning of trade unions and occasional murder of high-ranking officials Nationalism and change • Westernization and centralization

11. Unification • 4 main areas of trouble:Gilan, Khurasan, Azerbaijan and Kurdistan • Restored to central control by the end of 1922 • The British-tribal “working friendship” in Khuzistan ended in 1924; army sent in with tacit approval by the British • The rest of tribal, southern Iran also brought under Tehran’s control by 1930

13. Reforms • Centralization: • Used the army to gain control over tribes/weaken tribal leaders: • Military garrisons established in tribal areas, tribes were disarmed, their lands confiscated and migration patterns restricted • Modernization/westernization: • Secularism: Legal, judicial and educational reform • The religious establishment was “shaken, but it was not broken” (C) • Dress code; name reform • Education • Nationalism

14. Education • High priority  funds provided by state • Dramatic increase in primary and secondary school enrollment • Majority of secondary and university graduates entered government service  creation of a distinct bureaucratic class • Religious schools not abolished

15. Nationalism • Attempted to replace the tribalrelations with loyalty to the nation • “Dynastic nationalism” • Focus on pre-Islamic achievements of the ancient Persian empires • Aryan origins emphasized • Patriotic attitudes nursed in schools • Scouting movement established to promote “nationalistic sentiments” • Minority languages and ethnic costumes banned • Persian language purged of Turkish and Arabic words • Society of Public Guidance (Institute for the Orientation of Public Opinions) established; radio broadcasts, pamphlets and journals used to spread the state sanctioned “gospel” of nationalism

16. Women • Reza Shah’s policies regarding women aimed to “increase their participation in national life” not to “improve their legal status” (C) • Women were never granted the right to vote, polygamy permitted, difficult for women (easy for men) to initiate divorce proceedings

17. Economic reform • Increased revenue to the state: • Collection of taxes more efficient • Import tariffs raised • Indirect taxes introduced on consumer items (unpopular among poor) • Transportation system improved to encourage trade • No foreign loans taken • State sponsored industrialization projects; direct financing or low-interest loans and monopolies • Government controlled and inefficient • Stagnant situation in rural areas; agricultural development neglected

18. Oil • Reza Shah never gained control over the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company (AIOC) • Largest industrial employer in the country • New agreement signed in 1933; royalty payment 16 %  20 % of profits, concession extended to 1993

19. Social situation • Urban population increased dramatically • Rural situation worsened: • Power of the large landowners strengthened; Reza Shah # 1 landlord • Quality of life for peasants reduced; 95-98% of the agricultural population was landless! Brutal exploitation of peasants

20. Important dates • 1923:The Shah left for his European vacation • 1924: Two year compulsory military service • 1926: Reza crowned himself • 1927: Ministry of Justice formed • 1928: New civil code modeled on that of France • 1928: Capitulation law annulled • 1928: Dress code for men; European style required • 1932: Ulamas no longer had the right to register legal documents • 1933: New agreement on the oil concession signed • 1935: Persia  Iran; the land of the Aryans • 1935: Tehran University • 1935: Wearing a hat compulsory for men • 1936: Wearing of veil banned • 1936: Judges in the new state courts had to hold a law degree from a secular university • 1938: Railroad route linking Caspian Sea to Persian Gulf opened • 1939: State seized all waqf lands

21. Downfall • Reza Shah cultivated ties to Germany as a counterweight to Britain’s dominance in Iran  Reza Shah abdicated in favor of his son after the USSR and Britain invaded Iran in 1941 b