The Myth of Revolution in Iran
The Free Press • • world
Key Points:
- The American media often confuses revolutions with counterrevolutions, partly due to the successful 1776 American Revolution influencing sympathies toward revolutionary movements.
- Liberal commentators have historically misjudged subsequent revolutions, including those in France, Russia, China, Cuba, Nicaragua, Egypt, and Iran, by underestimating their potential for negative outcomes.
- In 1979, Princeton professor Richard Falk praised Ayatollah Khomeini and his advisers as moderate and progressive, predicting Iran would become a model of humane governance.
- Contrary to Falk's optimistic assessment, Khomeini's regime proved to be fanatical, reactionary, and oppressive, leading to decades of theocratic fascism in Iran.
- Despite
