Post-revolutionary Politics in Iran

The Islamic revolution was a major turning point in the modern history of Iran and one of the main developments in the contemporary Middle East. Carried by a wave of popular support, the revolution represented a new political system and leadership, with a new ideology and a vision of the ideal society. It embodied a promise - and raised expectations - of a brighter future for the country and the people. Once in power, however, the revolutionary leaders were often obliged to compromise revolutionary ideology in pragmatic response to the exigencies of their situation. Yet, opinions as to the actual policy which should be implemented and to the particular fields and pace of the change have differed, often drastically, among those representing the various political trends - radicals or extremists, pragmatists or reformists, conservatives of hard-liners, as they are often depicted.