Product Description

Nationalism, nation-building and 'defensive modernisation' were the main themes of the 'cultural revolution' underpinning the totalitarian and secular regimes of Ataturk and Reza Shah which replaced the traditional Qajar state of Iran and the long-declining Ottoman Empire. The authors trace the emergence of Ataturk and Reza Shah through the constitutional revolutions in Iran and the Ottoman Empire and the introduction of European social models, the establishment of dictatorship and of secularist reforms resulting in both cases in totalitarian, nationalist, and quasi-westernised states, and the personality cult of the leader. The legacy of both was a chasm between the elite and the masses and provided the seeding of an Islamic mass-movement.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #513115 in Books
• Published on: 2004-07-23
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 234 pages

About the Author
Erik J. Zurcher is Professor of Turkish Studies at the University of Leiden. Touraj Atabaki is Professor of Modern History, University of Amsterdam, International Institute of Social History. He is the author of 'Turkey: A Modern History', also I.B. Tauris.

Customer Reviews

Magnificent piece of work!
I am an Iranian (Persian). Grew up in the Islamic Republic period, right after the revolution. Hence , the regime has made it's own social manipulations in effecting the views of the public regarding the Shah's era.
However I should mention that as a common enigma amongst all post revolution born people, every individual strives to recover the truth behind the curtains about the factual happenings before the dark era of mullahs.
Thus I have found this book very impressive in terms of revealing the truths.

I strongly recommend it.