ABSTRACT

The Iranian Revolution of 1978-9 was a massive revolutionary upheaval which put an end to 2,500 years of monarchy. Under the banner of “Independence, Freedom, Islamic Republic” it mobilized various classes, strata, ethnic and religious minorities, and people of all ages with heterogeneous idealogies, politics and interests. Despite the lack of a cohesive political party, or a clear political platform, the clerical leadership succeeded in maintaining the necessary political unity among the diverse ranks of participants. Instrumental in preserving the unity, and ultimately the actualization of the “populistic pact” among major contenders for power, was the articulation of an anti-imperialist and anti-dictatorial discourse cloaked in Islamic terms, images and symbols. This radical Islamic discourse united various forces, rendered a populist bloc possible, and facilitated the transition to a new theocratic society, ruled by the Shi’ite clergy, and characterized by a dominant Islamic political culture.