Accession Number:

ADA151687

Title:

The Role of the Iranian Armed Forces in the Fall of the Shah.

Descriptive Note:

Master's thesis,

Corporate Author:

ARMY COMMAND AND GENERAL STAFF COLL FORT LEAVENWORTH KS

Personal Author(s):

• Avenido,A. S. , Jr

Report Date:

1984-06-01

Pagination or Media Count:

188.0

Abstract:

This study attempts to answer the following questions on the role of the Iranian armed forces in the fall of the Shah in 1979 a Did the armed forces contribute to the causes which led the people of Iran to rise against the Shah b During demonstrations and riots, did the armed forces worsen the situation c In the final confrontation, why did the armed forces fall to pieces after three days of minor street fighting d What lessons may be learned from what happened in Iran Investigation reveals that a the armed forces contributed to the revolution through human rights violations, corruption, excessive military expenditures and cultural dislocation b during riots and demonstrations the armed forces exacerbated the situation through the use of unnecessary force and military half-measures, loss of credibility, failure to feel the pulse of the people, and breakdown of discipline c By the final confrontation, the armed forces had already lost their will to fight the showdown only formalized their defeat and d lessons learned from Iran are a leader cannot rely on the backing of the armed forces without broadening the base of his support national development must be balanced decisive leadership is essential the armed forces must be prepared to counter internal as well as external threats provision of accurate information to the leader is necessary for correct decisionmaking the people can be pushed only so far loyalty of the armed forces must be to the country above all else and no armed forces personnel can be expected to massacre hundreds of their countrymen in a direct confrontation.

Descriptors:

• *MILITARY FORCES(FOREIGN)
• *IRAN
• *POLITICAL REVOLUTION
• *INSURGENCY
• MILITARY PERSONNEL
• POLITICAL SCIENCE
• CRISIS MANAGEMENT
• LEADERSHIP
• ISLAM
• THESES
• INTERNAL
• CONFLICT
• COUNTERMEASURES
• MILITARY PSYCHOLOGY
• SUBVERSION
• CONFRONTATION

Subject Categories:

• Government and Political Science
• Psychology

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE