Introduction
With increasing malaise and discontent among most sections of the Iranian population, the 1970s were characterized by growing despotism and repression, sig- naling an impending shift within Iran. The monarchy under Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi had failed to im- plement promised political and economic reforms, and faced growing economic difficulties in 1976 and 1977 despite huge income from oil exports, prompting mas- sive mobilization against his regime. The subsequent