Life in IRAN Before and After The Islamic Revolution | 5 Differences in 15 Minutes

Summary

This video explores Iran's transformation before and after the Islamic Revolution. It highlights the country's shift from modernization under the Shah's Western-influenced regime, with cultural freedoms and educational reforms, to the post-revolution period dominated by conservative Islamic values. The revolution reversed many of the Shah’s reforms, leading to restrictions on women's rights, a state-controlled economy, and an anti-Western political system. Despite improvements in literacy and infrastructure, Iran faces economic challenges, high unemployment, and rising demands for freedom, especially from younger generations.

Takeaways

• 🌍 Iran experienced significant cultural changes before and after the Islamic Revolution, shifting from a Western-influenced society to an anti-Western one.
• 👥 The White Revolution led to rapid modernization and Westernization, but also caused discontent due to oppression and corruption.
• 🏛️ The Islamic Revolution resulted in a crackdown on perceived enemies of the state, with a focus on conservative Islamic ideology.
• 👩‍🎓 Education underwent a major shift post-revolution, with a return to religious focus and the removal of secular aspects.
• 📈 Literacy rates improved dramatically after the Islamic Revolution, with a significant reduction in the gender gap.
• 🚫 Women's rights were restricted post-revolution, with laws enforcing dress codes and limiting public roles and education fields.
• 💵 The economy was a key factor leading to the Islamic Revolution, with wealth inequality and a focus on urban areas.
• 📊 Iran's economy diversified post-revolution, but oil remains a critical source of foreign exchange and government revenue.
• 🏦 State control over key economic sectors discourages private investment and affects economic performance.
• 🗳️ Iran's political system is unique, combining elements of democracy with a supreme leader who has significant control over various aspects of governance.
• 🌐 Iran's top trading partners have shifted from Western to Eastern and regional countries due to its anti-Western stance.

Q & A

What was the White Revolution in Iran?

The White Revolution was an aggressive modernization program in Iran that led to rapid westernization. It included reforms such as women's voting rights, family law reforms, and increased women's participation in the economy and society.

What were the main reasons for the Islamic Revolution in Iran?

The main reasons for the Islamic Revolution were general unhappiness with the regime's corruption, a luxurious lifestyle, and the influence of Western powers on Iran's government. This led to social anti-government demonstrations that escalated into the revolution.

How did the Islamic Revolution change Iran's cultural landscape?

After the Islamic Revolution, Iran adopted an anti-western mindset, and conservative political and religious leaders cracked down on perceived enemies of the state. This resulted in stricter enforcement of Islamic codes of dress and behavior.

What was the impact of the Islamic Revolution on women's rights in Iran?

The Islamic Revolution led to the retraction of many freedoms women had gained under the Shah's rule. Mandatory hijab, public dress codes, and restrictions on education and employment opportunities for women were imposed.

What were the key educational changes after the Islamic Revolution?

After the Islamic Revolution, religion was reintroduced into all schools, secular education was scrapped, and there was a focus on regulating behavior and dress of students, including mandatory hijabs for girls.

How has literacy and education in Iran changed since the Islamic Revolution?

Literacy and education rates have improved dramatically since the Islamic Revolution. By 2016, the literacy rate was 86%, the gender gap was reduced to 9%, and the female enrollment rate in tertiary education was over 66%.

What was the economic situation in Iran before the Islamic Revolution?

Before the Islamic Revolution, the economy was heavily dependent on oil, with over 90% of Iran's GDP coming from oil and gas. There was also a significant gap between urban and rural areas and a poverty rate of around 25%.

How has Iran's economy diversified since the Islamic Revolution?

Iran's economy has become more diversified with services making up 50% of the GDP, industry and mining at 32%, agriculture at 13%, and oil at only 5%. However, oil remains a critical source of foreign exchange and government revenue.

What is the role of the Supreme Leader in Iran's political system?

The Supreme Leader in Iran is an omnipotent figure who controls the economy, Armed Forces, environment, foreign policy, education, national planning, intelligence, defense, and even the multi-billion dollar government account.

How does the Guardian Council function within Iran's political system?

The Guardian Council is composed of 12 members who approve laws consented by the parliament, monitor elections, and review candidates for elected offices, including the president.

What are the current challenges faced by Iran's economy?

Iran's economy faces challenges such as high-income inequality, difficulty in absorbing university graduates, and state domination of key sectors that discourage private investments. Additionally, high unemployment rates among educated youth suggest deeper problems with the economic growth model.

Outlines

00:00

🌍 Iran's Transformation: From Westernization to Islamic Revolution

The first paragraph discusses the drastic changes Iran underwent before and after the Islamic Revolution. Under the Shah's rule, Iran experienced rapid westernization through the 'White Revolution,' which brought modernization and cultural freedom, especially in major cities. However, this period was marked by dissatisfaction due to oppression, corruption, and the influence of Western powers, particularly the U.S. and the UK. This discontent culminated in the Islamic Revolution, which overthrew the monarchy and established an anti-Western mindset. The new regime, led by hardline conservatives, cracked down on perceived enemies of the state, and freedom of expression saw little improvement. The ruling class changed, but the struggle of the poor and middle class remained. Despite this, younger generations, influenced by the internet, are pushing for more freedom, and some expect significant social changes in the coming decade.

05:01

🏫 Education in Iran: From Modernization to Religious Resurgence

The second paragraph focuses on the evolution of education in Iran. Before the revolution, the Shah's government modernized the education system, moving away from a religious focus to secular education that prepared students for various jobs and scientific fields. Despite this, many families preferred not to send their children to these modern schools. After the Islamic Revolution, the new government reintegrated religion into education, removed secular aspects, and enforced strict Islamic codes in schools. This led to a significant increase in attendance and literacy rates, with a notable improvement in female education. However, women's access to higher education has been restricted, and their rights in education have fluctuated over time.

10:05

👥 Women's Rights in Iran: From Restricted to Repressed

The third paragraph delves into the history of women's rights in Iran, which have been heavily influenced by the form of government. Before the Pahlavi dynasty, women were isolated with limited economic opportunities. The Shah's reforms brought significant changes, including voting rights and improved legal status. However, the Islamic Revolution reversed these gains, reintroducing strict dress codes and limiting women's participation in society. Despite some rights being retained, such as driving and voting, women face severe restrictions and legal inequalities. The recent wave of protests, sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini, indicates a potential shift towards change.

💹 Iran's Economy: From Oil Dependency to Diversification

The fourth paragraph examines Iran's economic journey. The economy was a significant factor leading to the Islamic Revolution, with oil wealth unevenly distributed and a focus on urban development that left rural areas behind. Post-revolution, Iran shifted to a more populist approach, expanding infrastructure and services to rural areas, which reduced poverty. The economy diversified, with services and industry growing in importance, though oil remains a critical source of foreign exchange. Despite economic growth, the value of Iran's currency has declined, and high unemployment rates among educated youth suggest deeper issues with the economic model.

🏛️ Politics in Iran: From Monarchy to Islamic Republic

The fifth paragraph outlines the political changes in Iran. Before the Islamic Revolution, Iran was a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system. The Shah was the head of state, and the Prime Minister headed the government. After the revolution, Iran adopted a new constitution, establishing the Islamic Republic with a unique political system that includes a parliament, presidency, and a supreme leader who has extensive powers. The Guardian Council oversees the legal and electoral processes. Despite these democratic institutions, the supreme leader holds ultimate authority, and the president's power is limited. This system has resulted in low rankings for Iran in global democracy indexes.

Keywords

💡Islamic Revolution

The Islamic Revolution refers to the events leading to the fall of the Pahlavi dynasty in Iran and the establishment of the Islamic Republic in 1979. It was a period marked by significant political and cultural upheaval, as described in the script, where the monarchy was overthrown and replaced by an anti-western, conservative Islamic government. The revolution had profound effects on Iran's society, culture, and economy, leading to a shift from a westernized, modern society to one governed by strict Islamic laws.

💡White Revolution

The White Revolution was a series of reforms initiated by the Shah of Iran in the 1960s and 1970s aimed at modernizing Iran. The script describes this period as one of rapid westernization, where cultural freedom increased due to Western influence, and women and men mixed freely. However, the reforms were also associated with corruption and an oppressive regime that led to growing discontent and eventually contributed to the Islamic Revolution.

💡Shah

The Shah was the title given to the monarch of Iran during the Pahlavi dynasty. The script mentions the Shah's role in imposing the White Revolution and his regime's luxurious, corrupt, and oppressive nature, which was a catalyst for the Islamic Revolution. The Shah's rule was ended with the revolution, marking a significant change in Iran's political structure.

💡SAVAK

SAVAK refers to the secret police of Iran during the Pahlavi regime. As mentioned in the script, SAVAK was responsible for oppression, torture, and even murder of those who disagreed with the Shah. The existence of SAVAK contributed to the general unhappiness and dissatisfaction with the regime, which ultimately fueled the Islamic Revolution.

💡Mandatory Hijab

Mandatory Hijab is a law in Iran that requires women to cover their hair and body in public as a sign of modesty. The script explains that after the Islamic Revolution, women's rights were restricted, including the introduction of mandatory hijab and a public dress code. This law is a clear example of how the revolution impacted women's personal freedoms and continues to be a contentious issue in Iranian society.

💡Literacy Rate

The literacy rate is the percentage of people in a population who can read and write. The script highlights the improvement in Iran's literacy rate since the Islamic Revolution, with a significant reduction in the gender gap. This indicates a major achievement in education under the new government, despite the shift towards religious education and away from secular teaching.

💡Economic Sanctions

Economic sanctions refer to measures imposed on a country to restrict trade, investment, and financial relations. The script discusses how U.S sanctions have affected Iran's economy, contributing to the devaluation of its currency. However, it also notes that only a small percentage of Iran's economic problems can be attributed to sanctions, suggesting that internal factors play a larger role.

💡Supreme Leader

The Supreme Leader is the highest-ranking political and religious authority in Iran, a position established after the Islamic Revolution. As described in the script, the Supreme Leader has significant control over various aspects of the country, including the economy, military, and foreign policy. This role exemplifies the fusion of religious and political power in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

💡Guardian Council

The Guardian Council is a body in Iran that oversees the legislative process and ensures laws are in line with Islamic principles. According to the script, the Council is composed of religious and legal experts and has the power to approve laws and review candidates for elected offices. This institution is a key element of the Islamic Republic's political system, reflecting the influence of religious ideology on governance.

💡Unemployment

Unemployment refers to the percentage of the labor force that is jobless and seeking work. The script mentions high unemployment rates among educated youth in Iran, particularly for women. This issue underscores the challenges faced by the Islamic Republic in providing economic opportunities for its growing, educated population and suggests deeper structural problems in the country's economic growth model.

💡Honor Killings

Honor killings are acts of violence in which people are killed by family members who believe the victims have brought shame or dishonor upon the family. The script cites honor killings as a significant issue in Iran, with hundreds of cases reported annually. This concept is a stark illustration of the severe restrictions and violence faced by women in Iranian society, particularly in the context of the patriarchal Islamic system.

Highlights

Iran underwent rapid westernization before the Islamic revolution, with a cosmopolitan lifestyle and cultural freedoms due to the Shah's White Revolution.

The White Revolution was met with resistance as many opposed the Shah's autocratic rule, leading to widespread repression by the Savak secret police.

Post-revolution, Iran adopted an anti-Western stance, with conservative Islamic ideology dominating politics and society, including strict enforcement of Sharia law.

The moral police became a powerful force, controlling public behavior and enforcing dress codes, particularly targeting women’s clothing and conduct.

Despite the Islamic revolution, social class inequality in Iran remains, with a new ruling elite flaunting wealth, similar to the pre-revolution elite.

Education before the revolution was secular and aimed at modernizing Iran, but post-revolution, religious ideology took over the education system, segregating boys and girls.

Literacy rates have improved significantly since the revolution, with female literacy rising from 36.5% in the 1970s to 86% by 2016.

Women’s participation in higher education surged after the revolution, with over 60% of university students being female by 2016.

Post-revolution, women’s rights were severely restricted, including mandatory hijab laws, limitations on voting rights, and reduced inheritance compared to men.

The killing of Masa Amini in 2022 ignited large-scale women-led protests, marking a potential turning point in Iran’s social and political landscape.

The Islamic revolution shifted Iran’s economy from an elite-centered, urban-focused model to a more rural populist approach, improving infrastructure and poverty rates in rural areas.

Despite diversification in sectors like services, industry, and agriculture, Iran’s economy still struggles due to heavy state control, sanctions, and limited private investment.

Iran’s currency has devalued significantly since the revolution, with one US dollar equaling 42,456 Iranian rials in 2022.

The Islamic Republic’s political system is unique, combining elements of a republic with a supreme religious leader who holds ultimate power over the country’s affairs.

Iran’s Supreme Leader, appointed for life, controls all key areas of government, overshadowing the president and other democratic institutions.

Transcripts

once a little piece of the West inside

the Middle East Iran has suffered some

of the most significant changes for a

country in recent history this is Iran

before and after the Islamic revolution

culture before the Islamic revolution

Iran was a very different world the

country underwent an aggressive

modernization program called the white

Revolution which led to Rapid

westernization in this period citizens

could enjoy some degree of cultural

Freedom mainly because of Western

influence women and men mixed freely

there was a Cosmopolitan lifestyle in

the main cities world was in awe of

Iran's rapid development however not

everyone was satisfied with the white

Revolution it was imposed any group that

disagreed with the Shah which means king

in Persian could be oppressed tortured

and even killed by the Savox secret

police general unhappiness was growing

with the regime's luxuries corruption

and Jet Set lifestyle there were also

Rising concerns about Western powers

influence on Iran's government mainly

the U.S and the UK all this led to

social anti-government demonstrations

that when met with brutal repression

quickly escalated into the Islamic

revolution right after the Revolution

and successfully overthrowing the

monarchy the country adopted an

anti-western mindset for the past 40

years Hardline political and religious

conservatives have grown paranoid of

Western influence and as a result have

cracked down on people they perceive to

be enemies of the state the Sharia is

the law that dictates the code of

conduct under a conservative Islamic

ideology even the moral police patrol

the streets enforcing Islamic codes of

dress and behavior in many ways freedom

of expression has hardly improved in

fact the overall feeling is that class

character in Iranian Society has

remained unchanged with one ruling class

replaced by another nowadays instead of

the Shah's ruling class the sons of the

revolution's leaders and the business

class that works within the regime's

rules flaunt their wealth by driving

luxury sports cars around Tehran and

posting on social media about their Jet

Set lifestyle in contrast the poor and

the middle class still struggle to

survive nevertheless younger Generations

constantly aim for more freedom mainly

thanks to the internet and many experts

including less conservative clerics

expect drastic social changes in the

next 10 years for Education before the

Revolution when the Shah was in power

schools in Iran began to modernize their

ways of teaching moving away from the

religious Focus the government chose

secular education in which students

would learn skills applicable to jobs

and Science teaching and management

despite the Shah's efforts to offer a

mandatory westernized education many

families would not send their children

to these modern public schools which

were inspired by the French system this

new education system was a mix between

modernization and nationalism as it

glorified elements from the pre-islamic

Persian culture during this era many

Institutes of higher education were

established while the Shah encouraged

women to attend higher education there

was a division among intellectuals and

they ultimately decided that they would

let women attend only to learn all

things related to the household

according to the World Bank and the

statistical Center of Iran in the late

1970s before the Revolution there was a

36.5 percent literacy rate with a 23.4

percent gender gap more than 60 percent

of women were illiterate and the female

enrollment rate in tertiary education

was only four percent since the Islamic

revolution the government brought

religion back to all schools removing

the secular aspect that the Shah imposed

and it was immediately involved in three

major efforts

urging courses and textbooks believed to

slander Islam removing teachers to

ensure that only those who were not

secular remained at the schools

regulating the behavior and dress of

students this resulted in boys and girls

being separated in different

institutions girls being forced to wear

hijabs and most of the westernized

education being scrapped out of the

curriculum attendance in schools grew

considerably and the government

redirected the Shah's previous efforts

to educate rural areas now under a

completely different ideology as a

result in the past 40 years education

and literacy rates have improved

dramatically by 2016. there was an 86

percent literacy rate gender gap was

reduced to nine percent less than 15

percent of women were illiterate and the

female enrollment rate in tertiary

education was over 66 percent nowadays

more than 60 percent of University

students are female and the urban rural

Gap in literacy went from 35 percent

before the Revolution to only 12 percent

even though the Improvement for women

has been more significant than for men

women's education is far from being an

easy Road the policies toward the

education of women have experienced many

changes since the Islamic revolution for

example right after it happened in the

subsequent Islamic cultural revolution

which consisted of the complete opposite

of the white Revolution women were

barred from most study fields and were

only allowed to study 91 out of 169

available Majors still after Iran's war

with Iraq in the late 1980s educated

women were needed to rebuild the country

and all restrictions were lifted and

finally since 2005 women's access to

academic majors has been limited once

again and the government basically

allows each University to impose its own

restrictions based on gender this topic

inevitably leads us to the most

controversial aspect of the Islamic

revolution women's rights historically

in Iran women's rights have been

severely restricted compared to those in

most developed Nations they change

according to the form of government

ruling the country and mandates for

women's rights have affected a broad

range of issues from dress codes to

voting rights for many centuries women

were isolated they weren't engaged in

politics and their economic contribution

was limited to household work those who

worked in textiles during this period

earned an average of one-third of what

men did and it was still possible for

Rural girls to be sold by the heads of

their families these conditions changed

during the palavi dynasty that ruled the

country from 1925 till the Islamic

revolution in 1979 the Shah introduced

many reforms concerning women's rights

in this period one example of an early

reform the Kashif or the forced

unveiling of women introduced in 1936

as the name suggests it involved the

Police pulling the hijab away even from

religious women what's more inspired by

the westernization that was taking place

in turkey at that time the Shah

increased women's participation in the

economy and society as literacy levels

improved women began to acquire high

official positions such as ministers and

judges While others emerged as artists

scientists and athletes in 1963 the Shah

granted women voting rights in 1967 the

Iranian family law was reformed

improving the position of women in

Iranian Society it allowed a wife to

initiate divorce and required the first

wife's permission for a husband to take

a second wife it also raised the minimum

age at which a female could marry from

13 to 15 in 1967 and 18 in 1975. all

these efforts were established through

the Shah's wishes for Iran to become a

more modern european-style country

however after the Islamic revolution

these freedoms were retracted even when

women were crucial to its success since

1979 women's rights have been restricted

through several laws such as the

introduction of mandatory hijab and a

public dress code by 2022 only 5.59

percent of members of the parliament are

women today they're allowed to drive

hold public office attend University and

to vote but when in public all hair and

skin except the face and hands must be

covered and not wearing a hijab in

public can be punished by law according

to the Sharia law women inherit half of

what a man would and compensation for

the death of a woman is half as well

also most areas of the country are

segregated by sex meaning that males are

prohibited of viewing females and age of

consent laws do not exist as all sexual

activity outside marriage is illegal

women are also banned from dancing with

anyone different from their family and

even to sing in public most of the

rights provided under the white

Revolution have been taken away

including the family protect laws

Banning contraception and lowering the

minimum marriage age to 13 and even 9 in

some cases Iran ranks 125 out of 170

countries in the women peace and

security index in 2020 it held the world

record in domestic violence against

women and in 2019 a state-run newspaper

revealed that an average 375 to 450

honor killings are recorded in Iran each

year situation is tense mainly because

the Islamic system being widely

patriarchal has proven unable to protect

women in September 2022 a new wave of

women-led anti-government protests

erupted in the country after the killing

of Masa amini who was beaten up by the

police for not wearing her hijab

correctly and died three days later

because of her injuries by the time of

making this video many experts suggest

that this may Mark the birth of a new

and long-awaited revolution

economy the economy was one of the main

factors that ignited the Islamic

revolution unequal distribution of oil

wealth in the 1970s harmed the Iranian

middle class and Rural poor while

benefiting the elite in addition the

white Revolution mainly focused on the

cities worsening the gap between rural

and urban areas in the 1970s the poverty

rate was around 25 percent and Iran's

nominal GDP in 1979 was around 90.32

billion dollars in this decade over 90

percent of Iran's GDP depended on oil

and gas and given that Iran's top

trading partners were Japan the United

States Germany France and the UK Iran's

currency was strong as an example in

March 1978 one U.S dollar was equal to

71.46 Rials on the other hand After the

Revolution Iran has indeed experienced

progress the shift from Shah's pro-urban

elite-centered policies to a pro-roll

populist approach included expanding

infrastructure and essential services

such as electricity and clean water to

the countryside as a result the poverty

rate dropped less than 10 percent in

2014 and by 2021 Iran's nominal GDP was

over 231 billion dollars Iran's economy

has become more Diversified as well

according to the central bank in 2022

the country's GDP is composed of 50

Services 32 percent of industry and

Mining 13 of Agriculture and only five

percent of oil however despite its small

size oil remains a critical source of

Foreign Exchange and government revenue

the anti-western mindset can be

evidenced in the impact on Iran's top

commercial allies in 2019 its top

trading partners were China the United

Arab Emirates India turkey and Brazil

even though the economy has managed to

grow Iran's currency has plummeted since

the revolution in June 2022 for example

one US dollar was equal to 42

456 Iranian reals of course we can't

ignore the U.S sanctions however

according to tehran's alame tabatabai

University economists only 15 percent of

Iran's economic problems can be

attributed to them experts suggest that

state domination of the commanding areas

of the economy such as the oil and gas

sectors large Industries and the banking

system discourages private Investments

affecting the country's performance even

though the gap between urban and rural

areas has closed significantly there's a

strong public perception of high-income

inequality that along with the country's

incapacity to absorb the hundreds of

thousands of University graduates has

produced a middle-class poor social

class moreover according to the 2016

census for men and women between 25 and

29. unemployment rates are at 34.6

percent and 45.7 percent respected high

unemployment rates for educated youth

suggest deeper problems with the Islamic

Republic's economic growth model

politics from a political point of view

Iran can be considered one of the most

bizarre countries in the world today the

Islamic Republic's political system is

thought of as a religious tyranny or

malacy Iran was an absolute monarchy

with a centuries-long history before

1906. then from 1906 to 1979 it became a

constitutional monarchy with a

parliamentary system under the 1906

Persian Constitution the first in Iran's

history the Shah was the head of the

state while the Prime Minister was the

head of the government in 1953 amid a

power struggle between Muhammad Reza

Shah and prime minister Muhammad musadek

the CIA and MI6 orchestrated a coup

against mosadev's government reinstating

the Shah who ruled tightly with the

support of the U.S and the UK after the

Islamic revolution the people of Iran

adopted a new Constitution that

established the Islamic Republic of Iran

and officially ended the monarchy in

this new political system Iran adopted a

parliament and modern political

institutions like the presidency and a

constitution just like any other

Democratic Republic still on the other

hand it also established a supreme

leader an omnipotent figure who controls

everything in the country the economy

the Armed Forces environment foreign

policy education National planning

intelligence defense and even the

multi-billion dollar government account

the supreme leader is appointed by the

Assembly of experts which consists of 80

to 90 members elected by popular vote

who review the Supreme Leader's

performance to decide whether to extend

or cancel his term though the funny

thing is it has been deemed illegal to

supervise the activities of the supreme

leader then comes the guardian Council

composed of 12 members six experts on

islamist theology chosen by the Supreme

Leader and six experts on constitutional

law who must approve the laws consented

by the parliament monitor elections and

review candidates for elected offices

including the president unlike other

countries the president isn't the

leading power figure in fact even if he

wins the elections he still needs to

gain the Supreme Leader's approval

before being sworn in this political

system may explain why Iran scored lower

than Saudi Arabia in the 2021 democracy

index that's everything for today we'll

see you in the next video and don't

forget to stay curious