ABSTRACT
The Islamic Republic of Iran and, in particular, its "ruling jurist," Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, have devised an ideology of revolutionary violence. Khomeini refers to a central theme in Shi'ism to justify the rule of such an elite and, more importantly, his central role as supreme ideological innovator and leader of the revolution. The training and indoctrination of Shi'i activists in clandestine organizations headquartered in Tehran, the resources made available to such groups, and Iran's diplomacy must also be taken into account. Shi'ism originated in a political disagreement in the early Islamic community over succession to the Prophet. The emphasis placed ort martyrdom in Khomeini's thought reflects the particularly important role that martyrdom plays in Shi'ism. The receptivity of both Shi'is and Sunnis to Khomeini's message is also determined, in part, by the social, political, economic, cultural, religious and psychological context of the particular community to which it is directed.
