Former regime, revolutionary and subversive groups on the eve of the Islamic Revolution

Introduction:

different conceptualizing that the word revolution has had, more or less share the meanings around a vast change of power and is accompanied with conflict and violence and ultimately a change in political structures, social society. Also, sociological revolution think it is that the revolutionary struggle in the mainstream of the outcome of the incumbents (or the so-called de Tocqueville, the former regime) and also the revolutionary groups or subversives. The masses of people and organizations in the Middle challenges are mobilizing in favor of one side and the end of their revolution.
Although the previous researches were based on causes and effects of the revolution and many analyses were done for it which themselves have made the ground for discussions, this research was conducted on the process of the Iranian revolution. While the process of revolution can have quite a realistic objective nature and it could be away from the mental tendencies of scientific methods but it could have a practical aspect. Practical aspects of these studies, in particular can be useful to society after the revolution and give prescriptive policies to avoid reparation of the revolutionary situation. This article is a fundamental attempt to understand the process of the Islamic Revolution and it is on the basis of the existing theory which is the theory of "political conflict".
The concept of political conflict theory means that the revolution is primarily a political phenomenon and to understand it, the society should pay attention to the political process. In the approach to political conflict, the community is as an arena of battle and the competition groups and the balance of power is determined by the result of the competition and achieving success in each group. Revolution occurs when the oppositions become more successful than the government in obtaining the maximum resources. Thus the conflict between the government and the opposition which is organized to overthrow the government is the main point in explaining the revolution. In order to enjoy collective action against the violence (subversive), it is needed that structures of power always have an active network and communication. They also should be able to mobilize the resource, as well as having some form of coalition with other groups and work to strengthen the opposition forces against the government.
The concept of this theory is the "anti-mobilization or mutual coalition". Since each of the political system could be successful by mobilizing resources and the whole forces, trying to perpetuate their rule by the revolutionary overthrow is embraced successfully when they the rejection of the "mutual mobilization" is happened. Thus, applicable approach to this theory is an attempt to politicize all sectors of society and to bring the non-political groups (the cross) against the regime and to complete the abolition of the rule-based scenario.
Mobilizing social process in which a single source of demographic, economic and military power is not available will be failed. Among these three, population resources has special place and revolutionary oppositions try to use psychological techniques with various tricks and, for example firstly by stating that the new myth of the revolution is as a collective action to achieve pose prosper; secondly by showing that politically motivated and power institutional participation is their promise of future military fight (in order to stimulate the loyalty of the masses and being successful).
Theories of political struggles that the conflict between the government and opposition groups organized to seize power, the main point is to explain collective violence and revolution as a part of society. The state partially can be successful by raising the cost of risk, willingness to participate in collective action and to suppress the opposition.
The theory of political struggle is usually presented against failure- aggression hypothesis which is based on the psychological theories of the revolution. According to the second view, the objective itself is not important, but what is crucial is the community's perception of reality. If the increase of facilities is parallel to the increase of expectations, this problem does not appear. But if after a prolonged period of prosperity and growth, there is a sudden decline and lack of facilities, dissatisfaction would appear in the community. As if society does not find its values and desires, it causes a distance between the expectation value and the potential value so it creates a "relative deprivation". In this theory, various reasons are examined which are affected on the mental state of the various forms of collective violence and revolution.
The theory of the political struggle against psychological perspective believes that although some humans are not successful but they do not do political action (violent or peaceful) unless there are very organized groups and they have this belief that groups and organizations are among them. Even in this situation, the government may increase its power by the cost of its actions in front of other competitors and collective action. It can be said that the phenomenon of revolution is in the political process and it is not the burden on the people.
What can be seen in politics are in fact thoughts of different groups over political power and using available resources of each group.
"Charles Tilly" explains the conflict in the form of a "governing body". Within each community there is a system of government control and monopoly of legitimate violence as a tool of repression in hand. The following components make up the political system of society.
1. Population: A group of people with common beliefs and structure.
2. Government: those who control important sources of power.
3. rival groups that are of two types:
A) those groups who are members of government and do not share much in common control power supplies with government and normally and legally want to meet their demands.
B) Non- ruling or Subversion and challenge- seekers: these groups are trying to enter the political system and government to meet their demands. Their efforts are faced with the opposition of government.
4. Coalition: it is agreement for the distribution of resources among different groups. Thus, there is competition among groups to overthrow the government. What determines the success of each of these two spectrum, subjects to the following factors and it could be explained based on Basij model:
A) the degree of community control over resources and the commitment of members to each other and the group's norms and aspirations.
B) The collective Contra and coercion to punish others and limit their choices.
C) The degree of collective control over the resource.
Whenever an attempt is to increase control over the resources and to gain strength and mobilization mode, it is known as the ability for potential collective action. If the control group reduced resources in basij mode, it is known as the inability to do collective action.
effective factors of political mobilization (basij):
In the struggle between the government and subversive groups, that wing (rival fraction) wins that have the greater ability to mobilizing (being in basij), that is it has the potential for increased collective action and implement in a timely manner. The determining factors in the process of political mobilization are:
1. Benefit: The interests of profit and loss that comes from collective action and the struggle group wants to spend much of its resources to achieve its power.
2. Organizing: to create unity in the pursuit of common identity and solidarity among members who are interested in security. Without organization, there may be a chaos in the revolutionary uprising to revolution.
In general, two types of organization form in this situation:
A) shared Groups: This is a type of local organization and a small organization, all members have always the same authority. Despite the remarkable loyalty, these groups are able to organize large-scale utilization of the loyalty and their aim is not overthrowing.
B) Collaborative or community: it is a large and complex organization. However, the loyalty of its members is lower, but they have the ability to organize so much. These groups do collective actions on a regular basis and do pre- designed and in large scale activities.
3. Mobilization or basij (resources and facilities): it is a process for obtaining needed resources within the group, such as the provision of manpower, weapons, promotional tools, information and so on.
4. The amount of assistance and opportunities available to enjoy the environmental resources and creating work opportunities. At this phase the relationship between the group and the environment will be reviewed and evaluated.
5. Collective action: it is make people to act together and to maintain common interests. Collective action benefits of variable composition, organization, mobilization and various opportunities will be achieved. Thus, the intensity, direction of society will be determined and the vulnerability of the system will be understood by them.
Among the factors mentioned, the mobilization of political struggle has a special place. Each group opposing the status quo and claim the power and want to gain it through violence, regardless of ideology, is a revolutionary group. That such a group wants an open or closed society basically makes no difference in terms of causing revolution. Organizing group's benefits is necessary for mobilization and it is partly meant to mobilize resources and forces.
Political mobilization means activating and using of power resources in order to set goals that are determined by its ideology. Resources are collected in the process of mobilizing resources and they are means of coercion, economic interests and sources of value (belief faithfulness). Base on this, the mobilization is a process that rejecting this social unit more quickly leads controlling the resources that they had no control on them. When it go far beyond the organization of group, it arouses a part of the population to achieve the desired objective and so it comes to exist as a movement.
in struggling situation in the groups of authorities, mobilizing resources happens by any competition between them and success of a group and getting power depend on proper competition with the other groups. The mobilization of the organized groups is so effective at the activities of mobilization. The more spreading the relations and common culture within the group, the mobilization is more likely to win. Strengthening collaborative links with other mobilization group, weakening the other social bonds and magnifying the role of leader or leaders, having faithful followers and network members and so it increases the loyalty in the community. In the process of mobilization, the mobilizing group may make use of existing organizations or newly ones are created.
According to the pattern of mobilization model, the ability of the groups in authority depends on the following three elements:
A) the amount of control over population resources.
B) Coercion control over resources (hard ware resources).
C) The extent of control over economic resources.
If a group exercises its control on each of the three or all of them is called the mobilization (Basij). The main elements of successful resource mobilization include ideology, leadership, and organization.
Table 1: Specifications related to subversion of the ruling regime in revolution:
Type or severity revolution to overthrow the coalition in the new regime the amount to change the regime the gap with the regime in power transmission
Full-fledged revolution to overthrow the old regime no, too low high Medium to high
A full-blown revolution, domestic violence none high Medium to high
Civil war fairly wide Moderate to high -----
Civil war with competitors wide low -----
uprising extremely wide Too low -----
Coup none, too low Moderate to high Low to moderate
Coup fairly wide, wide low -----
the conditions of a revolutionary mode:
Revolutionary mode occurs in the following situations:
A) the emergence of conflicting groups claiming the exclusiveness of power: maybe they are a member of political authority who want self- governing and they have gradually been divided from the government and have the desire to enter the political community.
B) The attraction of the bulk of the population by subversive groups: the government's inability to meet the demands of the people in one hand and on the other hand demanding their resources and the opposition or claim to meet the needs and the resources.
C) The reluctance or inability of government for repression: the inability or unwillingness of the government may be caused by these factors:
1. insufficient instruments of repression;
2. The inability to use them; 3. Canoeing and banning them.
The types of Shifting power:
The shifting of power occurs by the following ways:
1. full- blown revolution: it occurs when too much discord and division are among the opposition and government officials. This is associated with the displacement of grand power.
2. Civil War: split and divided, depending on its severity to the transfer of power to be gentle or rough.
3. Riot or insurrection: Depending on the split in the revolutionary situation, displacement of power will be done with peace or with violence.
4. Coup: low- to- moderate divide in society led to the displacement of power in society slow to moderate displacement. Table 1 (previous page) shows these kinds of displacement.
Revolutionary situation in Iran (1357-1356):
Iran's Islamic Revolution and the revolutionary situation in 1357 has been less and more studies and much research have been done by foreign authors. Thus there is no rich literature in this area. In addition to this problem, there is the absence or lack of statistics and basic data such as the exact number of martyrs and those who wounded of the revolution, the number of prisoners and exiles and groups affiliated with different political spectra, the amount of damages and other cases cited in the revolution. However, there is an attempt to consider the phenomenon from the perspective of the Islamic Revolution and the overthrow of the regime, and the overthrow activities are studied by the theoretical framework presented in a revolutionary situation.
Revolutionary situation in the years 57-1356 includes different courses:
1. The phase of democratization (May-December 56): In this phase , King looked for controlling and limiting political liberalization because of internal and external factors, such as protests for human rights and presenting public opinions, public discontent and trying to facilitate the transfer of power to his son. Apparently, the administration considered the army and Savak as the suppression devices for managing situation. He thought as if nationalist groups did not actually exist. Marxist organization groups who were suppressed had gone to abroad. Religious subversive groups were damaged badly during the 50s and especially after the formation of Joint Anti- Terrorist Committee by Savak.
At this time, the king considered himself the controller of revolution and with a sense of power and dominance over the country's security forces, he could see the situation of political mobilization under control. During the opening of the space, generally moderate and various non- revolutionary and non suppressive groups were active. Among their activities were the publication of open letters criticizing the formation of new groups such as the movement of radical, population experts, Iranian Committee for the Defense of the Rights, ceremonies limited to poetry evenings, Goethe Institute, the garden of the German Embassy and the group of University of Aryamehr and Sharif and aggregation of National Front in the Stone inn in Karaj road. Of these, the two last were led to struggle with the forces of king.
2. Open street protests phase: (in Persian date: Dey 56 to May 1357), since 1356, fundamental change were happened in the process of political mobilization and they accelerated the overthrow of the royal regime. King did not consider the main threat from nationalists and conservatives so he focused on the forces against the religious. In January 1356, in an unusual move propaganda system of the king inserted an article which was offensive and against Grand Ayatollah Khomeini, exiled leader of the Iranian. Not only religious forces but also educated and the youth, and also the public and non- political clerics protests against this act of regime and the King. The consequence of this cyclical popular events uprisings in Qom (Dec 56), Tabriz (29 Bahman 56), Yazd City (April 10 57), and 24 other city (Persian date: Ordibehesht 57), respectively. Most of these protests were with struggle. They were confronted with serious violence of state security they were not at all comparable to the non- revolutionary and non suppressive groups in terms of the kind of reaction and violence.
At this phase, the ruling regime applied the strategy of mixing carrot and stick. In the granting of privileges such as releasing political prisoners, open up the courts, giving relative freedom to the press and dismissal of General Nasiri the head of Savak, violent acts to intimidate the part of the opposition, especially the non-religious elements, including explosion in the offices of the National Front leaders and the FMI, abduction and beating the original members of the Writers' Association, the attack on the centers of the millions accumulation in ... and etc.
The first phase of street protests compared to the first phase of activities of nationalists and secular elements has the following differences:
First, the revolutionary base who were elite intelligentsia and the clergy and the market have influences too.
Secondly, revolutionary and subversive activities spread beyond of the capital to province and large cities.
Thirdly, in terms of a number of protests and acts of destruction against the regime, they were tripled comparing to the past.
Fourthly, the protests led to violence and conflict and the intensity of the conflict between revolutionary groups and the administration forces was intensified.
3. Mass protests phase (July to September 1357): With the start of Ramadan, the annual holiday and the departure of missionaries and young priests, -who have been now the carriers of political message of revolution and views of Imam Khomeini were in the cities and villages near and far from the capital city. The revolutionary movement was extremely intense and the most distant regions of the country were affected by that, in a way that religious forces was the only alternative and the only one which could overthrow the regime governing the country and had been accepted by the opponents and the fans. Even this was shown by US political officials and intelligence analysis:
Clergymen of Shia constitute the most effective opposition. The most influential leader who was Ayatollah Khomeini, had the belief of the overthrowing of the King and want the rule of divine in governing the country, and virtually there is no chance that the king or any secular government to reach a solution with him.
By Increasing the mass protests, the regime's policy was brought the new government in deadlock in precession of the movement because unlike the arrival of Senator Jafar Sharif Emami and the national reconciliation under the slogan of midsummer of 57 which was national reconciliation. Following protests of tens thousands of people in the city of Esfahan, he declared martial law. After the holding of Eid al- Fitr ceremony, prayers attended by millions of people in Tehran on 13 September and turned it into a major political meeting. Thus martial law was declared in Tehran and as well as several other cities. Killing the protests on 17 September in Tehran was a turning point to challenge and separation of government and the revolutionary groups. The following peaceful affairs of government could not fill this gap again.
Increasing the mass protests, the regime's policy precession movement with the arrival of Senator Jafar Sharif Emami and national reconciliation under the slogan of midsummer was 57 started the deadlock brought the new government, despite the slogan of national reconciliation following Zrya protests of tens of thousands of people in the city, declared martial law. After the establishment of Eid al-Fitr prayers attended by millions of people in Tehran on 13 September and turn it into a major political meeting, in Tehran and several other cities as well as martial law was declared late. Tehran protests and killings on 17 September, was the turning point in the challenge and break the revolution and regime qualifications reconciliation initiatives dimensional regime numerous concessions to the opposition could fill this gap.
4. Public strike phase (September in 1357): although the regime increased the violence but actually this was because of the weakness of its structure and the indeed run away forward and not using power to stand in front of public legally. For this reason, it was forced to put step back which was including the abolition of monarchy and readmission on the solar calendar, the dissolution of the resurrection, release of all political prisoners but these were understood as the fear of king of people's revolution and they were referred only to withdraw the revolutionaries.
In these conditions and by the beginning of a wide general strikes, administrative and economic bodies of government was paralyzed and its ability to mobilize resources was minimized. In Mehr (September) in 1357, strikes began from the universities and schools and speed up to reach to the administrative and the economy offices. In early November, strikes spread to the most vital part of financial and economic of the oil industry. Azhari also had no effect on general military administration.
At the end of this phase of the revolutionary movement and an ideology about Islam and the Islamic Republic was integrated and Nationalist Hoya Group, religious- nationalist and left wing group was officially established, like the National Front and the Freedom Movement Writers Association which were led by Imam Khomeini.
5. The dual governing phase (January and February 1357): America and the regime seek in the last months of the coalition to create a rift between revolutionaries and they tried to empower the least expensive and the least dangerous oppositions. At this point, according to Sullivan, the last ambassador to America, they were thinking about what is not thinkable. That is imminent subversion and overthrow of Iran's opposition groups. Of course, prudence and determination of Imam Khomeini and the deepening gap between the regime and people prevents the failure of and made this project be realized. The only option available to make full use of the capacity of the regime was the use of military repression and it was designed with the support of America (at that time the General Hyser was the head of NATO forces in Tehran). But the king, and disharmony with Bakhtiar, the last prime minister by the military regime, divisions within the army and the join of army to people got the last chances of the regime.
On the other hand, Muslim revolutionaries with the previous activities were a step ahead practically. In particular, after the return of Imam Khomeini to country, the countdown of overthrowing the regime began and the rebels finally dawn in Bahman 22, 1357 with the collapse of all political institutions, military and eventually overthrowing the regime was successful.
Revolutionary situation and opposition's activities:
In such a situation mentioned in general, the actions of subversive groups and coalition were led to the revolution. Of course, motivation, ability and effectiveness of the activities were another points but the religious spectrum was more effective due to structural factors and circumstances. And the historical of society were more effective. There was such a wide gap between nationalist and religious movements. Nationalist were more active in political outdoor phase (the first phase of the revolutionary situation) and also they were more suggestive than others, but they never wanted the overthrow of Pahlavi regime and the monarchy. In the famous letter of nationalist leaders -Foruhar, Sanjabi and Bakhtiar- they criticized the ravages of neglect and violations of constitution and constitutional situation. After the process of street protests in 29 Bahman by people of Tabriz, Dr. Sanjabi, the leader of the National Front, clearly confirmed the "legal battle" against the regime.
After the bloody events of September 17 and the escalation of the revolutionary situation, the initiative was entirely in the hands of the revolutionary and the alliance of religious spectrum, but the National Front, accompany with the revolutionaries but even declared that these are illegal activities and are against legitimacy of the monarchy in Iran (a legations and reconciliation with the king). SAVAK documents, Embassy of America and the documents of political elite of that time show the story of the efforts and leadership of the National Front meetings or sending multiple messages to officials and embassies and US intelligence officers in Tehran and met with the head of SAVAK, and finally Sanjabi himself met with the King. They were trying to reject these visits and taking advantage from the situation. US officials and the government in order to prevent movement led by Imam Khomeini, were forced to give facilities to nationalists and leaders of this Front and also gave power to them to have a government. At this time Bakhtiar became the minister. Meanwhile, leaders of the National Front thought that by pretending to accompany with the revolution in order to overthrow the regime (although they knew it would be rejected because of political backgrounds and their inexperience) and on the one hand inexperienced Muslim rebels and Dr. Mosadeq caused them to gain the power as a government automatically.
About the actions of subversive leftist groups during this period, it is also worth mentioning that despite the ideological conflict with the principles of intellectual and ideological Marxist revolution in Iran, there were some influential elements within the regime (according to the intellectual records and experiences of highly qualified cadre. They were created and hidden and then they were guided and communicated and supported by the intelligence services.) East and the Soviet Union had many expectation by these efforts, but because of the following reasons, they did not meet the expectations and many subversive activities against the Pahlavi regime were minimized:
A) The most important left groups, the Tudeh Party of Iran, was hit by SAVAK in the past decade and SAVAK actually had the resources of the group under its control and its hidden people within the party. The centrality of the Tudeh Party of Iran also had moved to Germany and Moscow so they did not have control on the group directly. They returned only after the overthrow of the regime in March 1357. It should be added that they there were internal disputes and power struggles in the party. The struggles in the group at the time of the activities for revolution and overthrow the regime led to dismissal of Iraj Eskandari, the General Secretary of the Party and placement of Doctor Nureddin Kianouri.
B) Generally the left wing had struggles in decades earlier, and had been subject to internal problems cassette his ability to rebel against the regime. Ideological struggles, tendencies of the New Left and the New Marxists, Leninisity, Maeisty and Enver xaje on the one hand caused the ramifications of the Party and the emergence of new organizations such as the Fedayeen Khalq on the other hand. These can be used to analyze the spectrum. Serious conflicts over strategy and subversion, and investments on the leading classes are among other problems of these groups. Some groups relied upon the working classes and the urban rebelling ones and Mao's thesis and surrounded groups of urban farmers. Promoting leftist intellectual in parallel to the flow of regime had decreased their power in Iran, and in turn, they had lost their influence in the midst of revolution.
C) Compared with others, left the whole decade before the revolution causing further trauma and security services were SAVAK had lost its cadre of experienced and theorists. According to the study of Abrahamian which is more or less reliable, at least 50% of the fighters were killed by the regime during the decade before the Revolution, and approximately 70% of this society were intellectual elite and educated in ones.
The other groups in the revolutionary coalition, who claim the overthrow of regime was the MKO. Of course, after the heavy attacks by SAVAK in 1354- 1350 and losing 73 years of its leading cadres and detained dozens of members as well as ideological spin to the Karksysm, they could not have influence among the people. In addition they did not have a good image for the religious leadership. But with the release of the imprisoned leaders such as Massoud Rajavi, Moses khiabani, Abrishamchi, shah savandi and others, this group utilizes the reputation and experience of a decade hidden founders and was active again. Major activities of this Group were:
1. With regard to the origin of Islamic ideology and revolution and the use of the religious beliefs of the people and also the their use of the verses of Qoran which were added to the organization's logo increased their power.
2. They confiscate the protests and demonstrations in favor of the other organizations. In March, in 1357 (in Tasuaa and Ashura ceremonies) the Supreme organization's logo and photos of the late leader could be seen by the masses of people and this was used to pretend people in the ceremony are their supportive.
3. Identifying and preparing to capture strategic areas of military, political and security places like Savak headquarters in Saltanatabad, Padgah and their weapons and caches in order to gain the access to documents, weapons and the ammunition. They initiate stealing the documents from the Department of the eighth SAVAK and giving these documents to Russians.
4. Closeness and attention of some revolutionary figures to stabilize the position of the image of their previous campaign and communication by focusing on being Savak prisons. (Among the ones who entered the organizations we can name Fakhari, Kolahi and Kashmiri who were key leaders who assast killing the prominent leaders of the Islamic Republic in 1360)
there was a connection between the rebelling activities and religious movement against the regime and the inefficiency of Hoya Andyhsh activities. At least a part of the rise of political Islam could be traced in the context of such interactive areas. Searching for other historical experience and testing alternatives helped the success of Islamic revolution. The following description of the causes and the supremacy of religion and religious forces in the reversal of one of the most powerful political systems is itself so eloquent:
The fact is that scholars and Clergymen are outside the public authority to which the masses did the pure truth. They speak a language understood by the vast majority of people. Historically, Shia Islam in Iran, is the idea of being revolutionary, messianic, and martyrdom-seeking and anti- Shia Stowe stability to the situation on the idea of justice and equality, with leaders who dedicated their life to their ideas. Muharram commemorates the battle of Imam Hossein(peace be upon him) and Yazid, so the Shiite political culture plays an important Role in the style of living.
At the beginning of the season of revolution, in the early phase of the movement, secular and nationalist groups who rebelled against the regime had no such influence and overthrowing ideas as the religious groups.
I believe this was not a random process and Imam Khomeini (RA) process the design and phases of revolution with a deep understanding of the social and political structure of the country and with an appropriate design managed the mass people, religious and clergy Groups and the framework of the overall operations.
Imam Khomeini in the early phase s of a revolutionary situation on 10 Aban 1356 in the boycott ceremony of his son, Mostafa Khomeini (RA), pointed to a fact that shows he had used of "new opportunities" for overthrowing the Imperial regime:
Iran today is in a new opportunity and this opportunity will be welcomed by you. Otherwise, the current situation will occur again. I fear that if, God forbid, we lose this condition and this guy (the King) gets his position again and will be strong, it would be such a shock to the people and no one could imagine that the first shot would be on you, the Clergymen. This is an opportunity that should not be lost.
He also aimed to maintain this position and emphasize the military to overthrow the monarchy, led the political forces, and prevented them from creating a gap in the revolutionary coalition which could decrease their power. He announced rebelling groups of the stuck in the middle of the peak and trends of national reconciliation to save the regime and the conditions of getting close to the king. The leader of the opposition and fighting group made clear the final outcome:
I disagree with the method of having balanced power … if you think the king must be overthrown, so have this goal. He will be tired of killing people and at last he will go. He also mentioned the aim of abolishing the connects between winning process and alternative explanations for declining the regime:
Those who have the competence to overthrow this regime, of course will prove that they are capable of governing the country as well.
The most important actions the whole religious coalition of small armed groups such as Abuzar, Mnsvrvn, unity, political clergy, religious intellectuals and the market in order to overthrow the Pahlavi regime were:
1. In terms of communication tools in order to mobilize the masses and psychological warfare, religious forces are a mix of traditional and modern communications networks and Abazr Rgftnd to work. About a hundred thousand mosques and religious site, and rely on the religious and spiritual preacher and missionary for over one hundred thousand who were scattered Tmaym country, had established communication network range and performance. The message and the statement of Imam Khomeini revolution in Iran was Dvtryn within 24 hours of Paris. None of the other opposition forces and the regime did not have such a possibility.
However, the use of modern tools is not reasonable. The four-month stay visas leader of the revolution in Paris which created the opportunity:
Contrary to what Sharif Emami had said, Ayatollah was not forgotten in Paris, he was the center of attention of the press and political circles and a daily contact established with the broadcasting of the world. He was with a strange face and an exceptional spiritual man who was sitting under a tree in the suburbs of Paris and he spoke with pleasant words against the king. From thousands of kilometers away, led the revolution, and had attracted the attention of all the world.
Within his stay in Paris, in addition to leading the political groups and multiple messaging into 114 interviews with news agencies, radio and television networks and large international press published and spread the message very effectively to all world and revolutionary groups. Interestingly, during the same period, the leader of the National Front had only 14 interviews with the press. The number for the leaders of the Mujahideen, and others were less than 10.
2. Use of occasions, symbols and rituals of the Shiite political culture: such things could be found exclusively in religious groups who use a lot of it in order to mobilize the masses and to obtain resources which were needed. It is rarely possible to establish large demonstrations against the regime with only on occasions such as Ashura and Tsua and Moharam. Among the rituals and practices which were used to support them was this slogan of "the triumph of blood over sword". This shows the influence of authority and sovereignty as well as the revolution in the use of these concepts and symbols by these occasions.
3. Creating a gap in the institutional and political authorities and creating an impasse in the government: since May of 1357, the revolutionaries began with several successful actions to create serious gap between the public and decision- making system and the regime got in deadlock. As an example of bringing the regime into a dead end, is Imam Khomeyni's meeting and negotiating with Seyed Jalal Tehrani, Chairman of the monarchy. As a result of it, the dissolution of this important element in choosing the successor to the King happened. Senate negotiators and House invitation of the National Council to resign the legislative mechanism in the country was another example which even before the collapse of the governing body provide the ground for overthrowing the king.
4. Making the repressive apparatus of the regime inefficient: in the revolutionary situation because of political and mass of the population in the political arena, police and security services alone were not able to control the situation. As a result, the intervention of military to deal with the rebels and the army was inevitable. King wanted to repress the revolution so since September 1357 he used the martial law and military forces headed by General Azhari, chief Artshtaran, as a last resort to repress the struggles. In addition, the decision making process is heavily dependent on the king's army and the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Secretary of War and even the Prime Minister, the elements were decisive in the absence of the king. Thirdly, there were many discriminatory relations between different parts of advisors and there were too many hierarchies in the military and civilian of organization. Part of the personnel of the armed forces, especially Homa fara -air force and gendarmerie- had revolutionary tendencies and were themselves dissatisfied with that status. Early allegiance of Air Force personnel with the leader of the revolution (in 19 Bahman 57) and the start of the conflict led to the fall of the regime from within (getting out of control from inside).
For this reason, When the soldiers deployed in the streets with flowers and the slogan "The army is our brother" and "A brother, why you fratricide?"they rushed toward the people. Decree issued by Imam Khomeini as supreme leader and source of emulation was effective in leaving obligatory rules and military oath. They were invited to disobey superiors in the cases of fire on the people, and their repression.
In Bahman 1357, only some parts of the military commanders and personnel (Immortal Guard) remained loyal to the administration. But the King and the lower levels of the army had left the country. The commander forces who were under his command were left without any reliable supreme and were not sure of their position, but they need to be control and cared themselves. Even the arrival of General American Hyser could not change this trend. During this time, various factions of rebels entered into negotiations with some senior of army and to minimize the stress and bleeding. As a result in the beginning of the final battle in the twentieth and twenty- first of Bahman, (in February) vast majority of armed forces and military commanders joined the nation and claimed that the army is of neutrality.
5. Organize and conduct strikes: Following the spread of strikes in schools and universities, government agencies, and especially the oil industry, a group is founded by members of the strikers. The aid was also awarded to them. In oil industry, the engineer, Javad Tondguan declared that Imam Khomeini is his only supreme. So this had a special role in revolution in oil industry.
6. Supporting the forces involved in the struggles: these strikes, struggles were not without killings and losses. In order to support the families of those who were killed at least 45 commissions were founded to help them. These commissions provided food and facilities for the families and helped them financially too. In addition 127 committees were founded to help mosques and religious parties until 1357. After returning of Imam Khomeiny, the engineer, Bazargan was elected as the prime minister and this was the last shot to Pahlavi regime and Bakhtiar.