Introduction: Iran in the 21st century – politics, economics and conflict

Iran has emerged from the 20th century having experienced two massive revolutions, two world wars, a movement for independence and democracy which began with the nationalization of Iranian oil and ended with the coup d’etat of August 1953, and a long war with Iraq. In the meantime the Qajar monarchy gave way to the Pahlavi dynasty, and the latter to an Islamic Republic.