Anti Westernism in Cold War Iran: Contexts and Driving Forces in the Second Pahlavi Era

Abstract

The phenomenon of anti-Westernism in contemporary Iran is considered a significant subject in the analysis of twentieth-century political and intellectual developments. Focusing on the Second Pahlavi era within the broader context of Cold War rivalries, this article examines the grounds and factors influencing the formation and expansion of anti-Western discourse in Iran. The primary research question explores how the political, security, social, and intellectual developments of this period led to the reinforcement of anti-Western attitudes within Iranian society. This study employs a descriptive-analytical methodology, with data collected through archival research, historical documents, scholarly literature, and relevant analytical sources. The findings indicate that a constellation of domestic and international factors contributed to the emergence of this discourse. On one hand, the intervention of Western powers in Iran’s internal affairs—particularly during the 1953 coup (28 Mordad)—and the expansion of U.S. political and economic influence within the Iranian governance structure fostered a deep-seated distrust toward the West. On the other hand, Cold War ideological rivalries, the rise of leftist movements, the political and security constraints imposed by the Pahlavi regime, the establishment of security apparatuses such as SAVAK, and specific state policies—including the White Revolution and the Status of Forces Agreement (Capitulation)—also played a pivotal role in shaping this discourse. Furthermore, the surge in nationalist sentiments and the emergence of nativist (Gharbzadegi-related) intellectualism among certain thinkers helped reinforce the intellectual foundations of anti-Westernism. Consequently, anti-Westernism in Second Pahlavi Iran can be understood as the product of a complex interaction between international Cold War conditions and domestic socio-political transformations.