The Pahlavi dynasty (دودمان پهلوی) (1925–1979 CE), or the Shahanshah State of Iran, emerged due to a number of prerequisites, including the Constitutional Revolution of 1905–1911 and the subsequent period of unrest. The turbulent times prompted the founder of the dynasty, Reza Khan, to take decisive action to bring the situation under his control in 1925. His resolute measures included the military seizure of Tehran and the overthrow of Ahmad Shah Qajar, the last representative of the Qajar dynasty.
Unlike the Qajar era, Reza Khan’s rule did not result in territorial expansion. Instead, the Iranian state took its final shape and acquired the borders that are familiar to us today.
Domestic Reforms under Reza Khan
Having consolidated his position as the legitimately elected ruler, Reza Khan actively engaged in reforming the state both domestically and in foreign policy. Domestically, he initiated steps to modernise industry and retrain professionals across all sectors of national life, including sending them to European universities to enhance their qualifications.
The Shah also implemented legal reforms by introducing civil and criminal codes, while leaving control over private life in the hands of religious communities based on Islamic law. Under Reza Khan, the country underwent industrialisation, with a nationwide network of railways and highways being established. A national bank was founded to oversee currency circulation and exchange within the country.
Alongside these democratic transformations, Reza Khan effectively stripped the parliament of its power, subordinating it to himself. Toward the end of his reign, his governing style increasingly resembled despotism, with many advisers and reformers being executed.
Foreign Policy and the 1941 Occupation
In terms of foreign policy, Reza Khan pursued an open stance toward the West, yet this did not prevent external pressure ahead of World War II. To prevent Germany from accessing Iran’s oil resources, on 25 August 1941, with direct involvement from the USSR, Great Britain, and Australia, Operation Countenance (codenamed «Agreement») was launched.
The brief military campaign, which saw only weak resistance from the Iranian government until 17 September 1941, resulted in the partial occupation of Iran. The political outcome of the British and Soviet military intervention was Reza Shah’s abdication, after which full authority passed to his son, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi: Continuing the Western Course
Mohammad Reza continued to pursue a policy of rapprochement with the West, which manifested itself in numerous ways. Most notably, from the perspective of the conservative Islamist opposition, this included the establishment of gender equality and a departure from other traditional Islamic norms and principles in both domestic and foreign policy.
Dissatisfaction with the policies of the second and last Pahlavi Shah was fuelled by internal political restrictions, such as the establishment of a one‑party system and the concentration of extensive security powers in the hands of the Shah’s Guard.
The White Revolution and Its Consequences (1963)
In 1963, the so‑called White Revolution took place — a package of political and socio‑economic reforms that included land distribution among peasants, privatisation of state‑owned companies, granting women the right to vote in elections, enacting anti‑corruption laws, and more.
Although these reforms appeared positive on the surface, they ultimately led to social upheaval. For instance, agricultural changes benefited only wealthy farmers and landowners. Ordinary peasants, who gained nothing, migrated en masse to cities, wh ere they remained unemployed. The clergy, having been excluded from the spheres of education and family law, also expressed discontent.
The arrest of Seyyed Ruhollah Khomeini in 1963 sparked large‑scale protests across the country. Discontent continued to grow, exacerbated by the Shah’s ineffective economic policies — such as prioritising the redistribution of oil revenues exclusively for military needs, inappropriate spending on ceremonial events, and support for monarchies in neighbouring Persian Gulf states — as well as his harsh treatment of opposition and religious leaders, among other factors.
The Islamic Revolution (1978–1979)
In 1978–1979, protests and rallies erupted once again, culminating in the Islamic Revolution, which ended Mohammad Reza’s rule.
Cultural Developments during the Pahlavi Era
Culturally, life in Iran during the Pahlavi era was marked by several achievements: increased access to education, the emergence of Iranian cinema, and a flourishing of painting, which continued to show strong European influence.
A similar trend was observed in literature, albeit briefly. Initially, new genres that were increasingly bold for Iranian society emerged (such as the social novel), but after the coup and Mohammad Reza’s rise to power, Iranian authors’ works began to take on a more protest‑oriented and anti‑colonial character, opposing the perceived dominance of the Soviet Union as colonialists.
The Rise of Religious Opposition and the 1979 Revolution
The increasingly vocal religious opposition spurred a «revival» of Islamic norms in art and culture, which were ultimately solidified by the 1979 revolution.
