ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to examine the structure and ideology of Iranian left from the origins to the 1990s. In terms of structure, it follows a chronological narrative. It focuses on three main periods: the rule of Reza Shah Pahlavi (1925–1941), that of Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi (1941–1979), and the first decade of the Islamic Republic (1980s). For each period, the chapter reviews major trends and debates, as well as the actors, by analyzing continuities, discontinuities, and transformations across the era. The chapter particularly focuses on the influence of Islamic culture, ideology, and terminology on the Iranian left and on individuals who identified themselves as leftists in Iran. By doing so, it aims to explore the tension (and overlap) between these two strong currents in 20th-century Iranian politics.
