Disclaimar, I am not terribly informed on the topic and more than happy to hear more informed insight on the question asked.
To begin, the Shah was considered a dictator but his secular-like rhetoric seemed a little more humanizing towards women.
The value of rials plummeted too. Under the Shah, Rls 70 equalled 1 USD. In 2024, Rls 42k equalled 1 USD. Media such as the bible was outlawed and still is to this day is. There is a mandatory dress code and a whole torrent of sexist polices in regards to women.
On the other hand, under the Islamic Govt., the dissonance between the rich and poor has been lessened. And their govt. is under a more alternative form of democracy intertwined with Islamic theocracy. So there is that.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/apr/11/iranian-rial-all-time-low-us-dollars-tehran
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/irans-economy-40-years-after-the-islamic-revolution/
Would things be better if the Islamic Revolution in Iran was purged and the Shah remained in power?
byu/alpacinohairline ingeopolitics
3 Comments
Better for who?
The Shah would definitely endorse your proposal.
I imagine it would have been better. The Shah had better relations with the West and historically nations that maintain long term good relations with the West, even autocratic ones, will make human rights and pro-western values concessions in exchange for Western aid / weapons. Iran would likely flourish economically (compared to in our timeline). Though the Shah is a dictator there is no guarantee it would remain that way indefinitely, similar to South Korea.
Maybe modern day Iran would resemble Bahrain, Egypt, Kuwait or so on. Maybe somewhat politically similar to Saudi Arabia and less at odds with US (and Saudi) interests in the region.
Honestly I just can’t imagine things being any worse than they are now.