The Shahs Imperial Celebrations of 1971: Nationalism, Culture and Politics in Late Pahlavi Iran

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In October 1971 Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, Shah of Iran, held a celebration to commemorate the 2500th anniversary of the founding of the Persian Empire by Cyrus the Great. Dozens of heads of state descended on Persepolis for these Celebrations, where they were regaled to sumptuous banquets and entertainment. Critical journalists in Western Europe and North America lambasted the Shah for holding such a decadent event while many of his people lived in poverty. Due to the overwhelmingly negative press at the time, the event is still today widely remembered as a catastrophic failure.It is even said by many to have sparked the unrest that eventually led to the revolution and the Shahs downfall in 1979. In this first comprehensive academic study of the 2500th Anniversary Celebrations, Robert Steele looks beyond the pomp and splendour to examine the events origins, the goals the organisers set out to achieve with them and the extent to which these goals were accomplished. The book seeks to place the Celebrations in the context of the Shahs rise, rather than his fall, uncovering the unparalleled international cultural and scholarly operation that was spurred by the Iranian regime for the occasion, exploring the effects the event had on Irans tourism industry and questioning narratives of the events cost.

Reviews

Finally, a serious and dispassionate analysis of an event that has been the object of mere ridicule for decades. -- Houchang E. Chehabi, Professor of International Relations and History, Boston University, USA
This first book on the 1971 celebration highlights its long germination period and wide-ranging cultural-political activitiesincluding exhibitions and conferences; reveals itsand many criticsglobal scope; and illustrates Irans rising power, punctured by insecurities. Rightfully rejecting teleological links to 1979, this is a smart read packed with fascinating details. * Cyrus Schayegh, Professor of International History, Graduate Institute of Geneva, Switzerland *
Robert Steeles well-researched account provides valuable insight into the background of the imperial celebrations of 1971. Clearly written and structured, it offers context and nuance and challenges the prevailing narrative of extravagance and failure of the celebrations. This is a vital contribution to the history of Late Pahlavi Iran. -- Bianca Devos, Philipps University Marburg, Germany

Author Bio

Robert Steele is currently the Jahangir and Eleanor Amuzegar Postdoctoral Fellow in Modern Iranian History at the University of California, Los Angeles. USA. He holds a PhD in Arab and Islamic Studies from the University of Exeter, UK.