Introduction

Abstract

The topics of revolution and resistance in the Muslim world have attracted much public interest since the unexpected, and in many ways unique, Iranian Revolution of 1978–79. This revolution was special because it broke out in an apparently strong and relatively prosperous state and because the revolution’s dominant and ultimately victorious ideology was not only religious, but a variety of Islam that claimed to be traditional rather than radical. Also, its main victorious leaders were clerics — something unprecedented in the history of revolution.