How is it that the struggle in Iran can escalate despite the lack of a clear political leadership. Why is the Iranian ruling class not able to contain and control the mass upsurge?
THE ESCALATING struggle in Iran is a response to a quarter century brutal dictatorship and repression. This is symbolised by the Shah and the instruments of repression which he has created.
Once the struggle developed beyond a certain stage, once people were killed in street battles, the masses lost all fear. In a very literal sense they had nothing ese to lose. stress the independent Socialist Challenge 9 November 1978 Page 8 Iran of context this will Shah's the wrath of the masses.
Trotsky always used to As for political have seen po textbook of this revolutionary axiom. Even the oil workers' strike has a political demand as its only focus: end Martial Law and release the prisoners.
The one demand which united the religious leaders and the left is the call to overthrow the Shah. In the present is revolutionary democratic demand.. And the masses not accept anything less. attempts to persuade the moderate opposition parties to form a national government will founder on the second part of the question, the answer is obvious. The through coercion, exemplified by the existence of SAVAK. They have no reserves to draw upon. That is why we have explained that there fundamental difference between countries like Iran and others bourgeois democracy exists. It is not 1975 with Iran in 1978 to understand possible to contrast Portugal in this fact, but even compare Iran with India. Despite the character of India's institutions, they have nonetheless served the ruling class of that country well.
It is in that sense that we would insist that despite the gravity of the economic crisis in the advanced capitalist world, reserves at its disposal. In a country like Iran this is clearly not the case. one-sided or Eurocentric view of the world political situation can, theretore, prove fatal for revolutionary marxists and Britain prepared to co so tar order to defend the Shah and his regime? After all their "human rights' moth-eaten demagogy has exposed as in the case of Iran? THE ANSWER can be summed up in one word: OIL. The crude oil reserves of Iran amount to 10 per cent of the world total. As a result the West needed Any West are the leaders of the United States in been so well oil, ensure a continuous supply of oil to th The Shah fitted the bill. He wi ruthless, corrupt, a megalomaniac an totally loyal to the West. So imperial concentrated on building the Shah's regime over the last 25 year They transformed and modernise Pahlavi's army and air force. Vario other forms of aid were provided. A time passed and une tacade or staom appeared almost permanent, the We encouraged a more audacious role fo Iran. Given that the Persian Gulf state produced another big chunk of wor Iran was given the task