ABSTRACT
The revolution of 1978-79 in Iran dethroned Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi and put an end to the monarchy’s ideology based on Persian nationalism. This policy of promoting Persian nationalism, of glorifying the past of Iran and of acclaiming the contribution of Persian culture to world civilisation was an unsuccessful attempt to unite the Iranian nation under the banner of pan-Iranism. In fact, the creation of the Rastakhiz (‘Revival’) party in 1975 was one of the latest efforts of the monarchy to consolidate Iranian society.1 In all this Islam was almost completely ignored by both the founder of the dynasty, Reza Shah Pahlavi, and his dethroned son.
