Iran’s Perilous Path to Self Determination and Democratic Rule

Part of the "Iran: Past and Present" lecture series.

Detailed information about the series can be found at

http://psa.stanford.edu.

In the summer of 1953, the U.S. and British governments toppled the nationalist and popular government of Dr. Mohammad Mossadegh through a military coup and brought Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi back into power. The coup constituted a serious setback in the struggle of Iranians to establish a democratic society independent of the foreign imperial powers, a struggle that dates back to 19th century Iran. The coup and the Shah's regime in Iran left a deep imprint on the socio-economic development of the country. The coup was also a watershed event in the recent history of the Middle East since it clearly signaled the U.S. foreign policy in support of undemocratic client states for decades to come.

In this talk, the speaker will discuss the reasons for the 1953 coup and its ramifications while reviewing the socio-political history of Iran since the genesis of the Constitutional Revolution in the 19th century until the 1979 revolutionary upheaval in Iran. The presentation will be followed by a discussion period and the screening of a 50-minute documentary titled “Anatomy of a Coup: The CIA in Iran.”

Shahram Aghamir is a journalist currently working with KPFA 94.1 FM Berkeley, a listener sponsored non-commercial Pacifica Network Radio for Northern and Central California.

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