GPI Global Policy Institute

Will The Ayatollahs continue to rule Iran?

On February 26 the Global Policy Institute held a special event within its GPI EXCHANGE Series in order to present and discuss Fazle Chowdhury’s latest book “Promises of Betrayals, The History that Shaped the Iranian Shia Clerics”. Fazle Chowdhury is an international management consultant with long and deep experience on Iran and the Region. He is also a Professor at Bay Atlantic University, BAU, and a GPI Fellow.

On January 16, 1979, a cancer stricken Shah of Iran left a country in great turmoil. He never returned. A few months later, the anti-Shah popular rebellion took a decidedly religious and anti-American tone.

Ayatollah Khomeini became the ruler. This came as a shock for the United States, as it was used to rely on a solidly pro-American regime in Iran. To this shock Washington had to add the crisis caused by the illegal occupation of the US Embassy in Tehran on November 4, 1979 by “the students” and the equally illegal imprisonment of the US diplomatic personnel which lasted for 444 days.

Surprisingly, the Ayatollahs managed to stay in control, notwithstanding adversities and a bloody 8 year war with Iraq. 40 years later, they still rule the country. But how do they govern? And what are the roots of their prestige among at least some segments of the Iranian society?

These were among the key questions addressed in the course of a lively conversation about the book between the author and Paolo von Schirach, GPI President. In particular, Mr. Chowdhury pointed out that throughout the centuries the Shia Clerics always maintained a foundation of popular support in Iran. Whatever the fortunes of the present regime led by the Ayatollahs, the Shia faith will continue to resonate within large segments of the Iranian society.

Fazle Chowdhury is a Global Policy Institute Fellow and Professor at Bay Atlantic University (BAU). In his 15-years as a Management Consultant, he has played a central role on developing models on monitoring terrorism finance while also creating an effective financial strategic battle plans to strengthen client organization’s demands. A former IBM Management Consultant, his articles related to global finance and conflicts have been published at the Daily Telegram and the Billings Gazette. Fazle received his Master of Science in Organization Management from Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts and has also completed the Executive Program & Stewardship in Management from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Education in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

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