On March 31, 1979, the country held a referendum, where almost 98% of the population voted for Iran to become an Islamic Republic. The last Shah of Iran (Mohammad Reza Pahlavi), who was perceived by many Iranians as a “puppet” of the West (particularly, of the US), was finally overthrown and fled the country. A high number of demonstrators were shot and killed, prompting only more violence and demonstrations, including strikes of oil industry workers. He reminded the audience of some basic facts: the upheavals were violent and divisive and began in a period of economic uncertainty, with high rates of unemployment and in a country undergoing a severe oil crisis.
As the 40th anniversary of the Iranian Revolution approaches, this topic is becoming more and more relevant.Īxworthy also pointed out how the time is ripe for reflection and reassessment of the revolution. He stressed the importance of the Iranian Revolution, one of the most significant in world history, along with the Russian Bolshevik and French revolutions. The lecture started with an introduction by Federigo Argentieri, Professor of Political Science and Director of Guarini Institute for Public Affairs. Axworthy has written articles for academic journals and for publications such as The Guardian, Prospect and The Independent, and has appeared on broadcast programs such as Start the Week, Sky News, Today and A History of the World in 100 Objects. In 2013 Axworthy published Revolutionary Iran: A History of the Islamic Republic.
His first book, The Sword of Persia: Nader Shah, from Tribal Warrior to Conquering Tyrant, was published in 2008 and his second, Empire of the Mind: A History of Iran, was published in the following year.
0 kommentar(er)
