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 implement promised political and economic reforms, and faced growing economic difficulties in 1976 and 1977 despite huge income from oil exports, prompting massive mobilization against his regime. The subsequent