Rastakhiz
Encyclopedia
Rastakhiz Party was founded on March 2, 1975 by Mohammad Reza Pahlavi
, the Shah of Iran
. The party was intended as Iran's new single party, holding a monopoly on political activity in Iran, and to which all Iranians were required to belong. It survives today in exile as an Iran
ian monarchist
party opposing the Islamic Republic
created when the Pahlavi dynasty
was overthrown.
(merchants of the bazaar
s) - with its compulsory membership and dues, and general aggressive interference in the political, economic, and religious concerns of people's lives. The few political parties that were able to continue functioning during this era were forced to become part of Rastakhiz.
Established along with the party was a youth wing — Rastakhiz Youth — which Hoveyda referred to as "the instrument of Iran's development." Through this youth wing and a special task force of the party, Rastakhiz embarked upon a large-scale anti-profiteering
campaign directed against the bazaari merchants, who were soon identified as "enemies of the state." In October 1975, the Shah, referring to this campaign as a "cultural movement," decreed that anti-profiteerism be made the fourteenth principle of the White Revolution
.
The single party system ended in late 1978 as the Iranian Revolution
gained ground. The party was totally removed in early 1979 when the monarchy fell.
Since the revolution the party and other monarchist groups have been active in exile calling for the reestablishment of the constitutional monarchy
of 1906 in Iran. However, none of them have any affiliation with the original Rastakhiz Party (except that some of them have leaders who were members of the original party), nor do they have any recognition by the former royal family, of which Reza Pahlavi
has even denounced several of them. Monarchist groups are strictly banned under the government of the Islamic Republic
and supporters are typically subject to imprisonment should their affiliation be made public.
Rastakhiz party is member of the International Monarchist Conference.
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi
Mohammad Rezā Shāh Pahlavi, Shah of Iran, Shah of Persia , ruled Iran from 16 September 1941 until his overthrow by the Iranian Revolution on 11 February 1979...
, the Shah of Iran
Pahlavi dynasty
The Pahlavi dynasty consisted of two Iranian/Persian monarchs, father and son Reza Shah Pahlavi and Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi The Pahlavi dynasty consisted of two Iranian/Persian monarchs, father and son Reza Shah Pahlavi (reg. 1925–1941) and Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi The Pahlavi dynasty ...
. The party was intended as Iran's new single party, holding a monopoly on political activity in Iran, and to which all Iranians were required to belong. It survives today in exile as an Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
ian monarchist
Monarchism
Monarchism is the advocacy of the establishment, preservation, or restoration of a monarchy as a form of government in a nation. A monarchist is an individual who supports this form of government out of principle, independent from the person, the Monarch.In this system, the Monarch may be the...
party opposing the Islamic Republic
Islamic republic
Islamic republic is the name given to several states in the Muslim world including the Islamic Republics of Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, and Mauritania. Pakistan adopted the title under the constitution of 1956. Mauritania adopted it on 28 November 1958. Iran adopted it after the 1979 Iranian...
created when the Pahlavi dynasty
Pahlavi dynasty
The Pahlavi dynasty consisted of two Iranian/Persian monarchs, father and son Reza Shah Pahlavi and Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi The Pahlavi dynasty consisted of two Iranian/Persian monarchs, father and son Reza Shah Pahlavi (reg. 1925–1941) and Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi The Pahlavi dynasty ...
was overthrown.
History
Founded under the government of Prime Minister Amir Abbas Hoveyda, the party has been blamed by some with contributing to the overthrow of the Pahlavi monarchy by antagonizing formerly apolitical Iranians - especially bazaariBazaari
Bazaari is the name given to the merchants and workers of bazaars, the traditional marketplaces of Iran. Bazaaris are involved in "petty trade of a traditional, or nearly traditional, kind, centered on the bazaar and its Islamic culture." Bazaari have been described as "the class of people who...
(merchants of the bazaar
Bazaar
A bazaar , Cypriot Greek: pantopoula) is a permanent merchandising area, marketplace, or street of shops where goods and services are exchanged or sold. The term is sometimes also used to refer to the "network of merchants, bankers and craftsmen" who work that area...
s) - with its compulsory membership and dues, and general aggressive interference in the political, economic, and religious concerns of people's lives. The few political parties that were able to continue functioning during this era were forced to become part of Rastakhiz.
Established along with the party was a youth wing — Rastakhiz Youth — which Hoveyda referred to as "the instrument of Iran's development." Through this youth wing and a special task force of the party, Rastakhiz embarked upon a large-scale anti-profiteering
Profiteering
Profiteering may relate to:* Profiteering * War profiteering...
campaign directed against the bazaari merchants, who were soon identified as "enemies of the state." In October 1975, the Shah, referring to this campaign as a "cultural movement," decreed that anti-profiteerism be made the fourteenth principle of the White Revolution
White Revolution
The White Revolution was a far-reaching series of reforms in Iran launched in 1963 by the Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. Mohammad Reza Shah’s reform program was built especially to strengthen those classes that supported the traditional system...
.
The single party system ended in late 1978 as the Iranian Revolution
Iranian Revolution
The Iranian Revolution refers to events involving the overthrow of Iran's monarchy under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and its replacement with an Islamic republic under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the...
gained ground. The party was totally removed in early 1979 when the monarchy fell.
Since the revolution the party and other monarchist groups have been active in exile calling for the reestablishment of the constitutional monarchy
Constitutional monarchy
Constitutional monarchy is a form of government in which a monarch acts as head of state within the parameters of a constitution, whether it be a written, uncodified or blended constitution...
of 1906 in Iran. However, none of them have any affiliation with the original Rastakhiz Party (except that some of them have leaders who were members of the original party), nor do they have any recognition by the former royal family, of which Reza Pahlavi
Reza Cyrus Pahlavi
Prince Reza Pahlavi is the last crown prince of the former Imperial State of Iran and current head of the House of Pahlavi. He is the older son of the late Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, and his Shahbanou Farah Pahlavi...
has even denounced several of them. Monarchist groups are strictly banned under the government of the Islamic Republic
Islamic republic
Islamic republic is the name given to several states in the Muslim world including the Islamic Republics of Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, and Mauritania. Pakistan adopted the title under the constitution of 1956. Mauritania adopted it on 28 November 1958. Iran adopted it after the 1979 Iranian...
and supporters are typically subject to imprisonment should their affiliation be made public.
Rastakhiz party is member of the International Monarchist Conference.
External links
- Official Website
- Amini, P., "A Single Party State in Iran, 1975-78: The Rastakhiz Party - the Final Attempt by the Shah to Consolidate his Political Base," (not free online), Middle Eastern Studies, Volume 38, Issue 1 January 2002 , pages 131 - 168