A Sociological Study of Authoritarianism in the Pahlavi Era

Abstract

The present study addresses the Pahlavi era regarding the political system, and it is to investigate and analyze authoritarian governments. The study which is a historical-documentary one, also deals with the consequences of authoritarianism in the Pahlavi era and the impacts of historical-geographical conditions of Iran on the emergence and durability of authoritarianism. Authoritarianism is considered to be a type of system which is established by exerting force and violence, illegitimate rule of power and lawlessness. Investigation of the factors affecting the structure of authoritarianism in this study indicates that the Pahlavi rule as an authoritarian government, despite its positive aspects and consequences, has had negative economic, political, and social consequences for the Iranian society at that time and for the later generations. Neglecting a negative social phenomenon at the present may cause extensive changes over time so that fighting or eradicating them needs far more time and costs. According to the results of the study we may say that the same policies provided the context for the fall of the regime.