13 - The Picketers Come of Age

Summary

Tired of waiting for political inclusion, radical Iranian dissenters become politicized in the last decade of the shah rule. Some intellectuals decried the “Westernitis” of Iran and embraced instead a mixture of ideologies. The United States tried to engage Iran’s dissenting thinkers, but it did not make much headway. Instead, Americans dealt with Iran on two fronts: an elite diplomatic level and rebellious non-elite ties. The two sides viewed Iranian politics differently but shared a misunderstanding of the country’s dissidents. The youth found itself caught in the middle. Some cherished their newfound social liberties but felt constrained by domestic politics. The shah hurt his international image by spending money on lavish vacations and state functions that eroded his popularity. The inability to address growing economic problems fueled the opposition.