Submission statement: The article discusses how Iran’s theocrats allied with and then crushed the left. The leftists supported Khomeini because they thought he was anti-Western and anti-imperialist, but they did not realize that he was also a religious leader who wanted to impose his own views on society. The leftists also made mistakes by not focusing on women’s rights and human rights, and by not realizing the potential for fascism in Khomeini’s regime.
I've heard all that before, but it still seems dangerously naive, in retrospect or not. Certainly Khomeini had writings or a manifesto or whatever that detailed his treacherous ideas? You can always count on leftists to be their own worst critics.
Khomeini didn't have writings per se - he had recordings.
Khomeini had been sent into exile prior to the Revolution largely due to his outspoken opposition to Western influence and the Iranian state's support for Israel. This had actually set him apart from the vast majority of the Shia clergy at the time, who had pursued a 'quietist' policy in politics - basically they avoided talking about or engaging with politics in general. Khomeini's break with this tradition made him seem like an atypical clergy member, and that coupled with his political stances made him seem at least amenable to left wing thought.
However, while in exile, Khomeini began giving lectures on his thought, which trended more explicitly theocratic. These lectures were recorded and passed around his supporters via cassette tapes. Because of the Shah's repression, these tapes were mostly hidden from the public and only heard by his supporters. Given what was known about him at the time, and the fact that his actual beliefs were somewhat hidden, it's not unbelievable that many left-wing forces in Iran were caught off-guard.
There was a PBS report on this a few months ago. The conclusion in that report was that people were aware, but had deluded themselves into thinking they had the upper hand in support and would be able to handle Khomeini, but otherwise this article aligns pretty well with how things went down in the PBS report.
[OP] UnscheduledCalendar | 10 hours ago
Submission statement: The article discusses how Iran’s theocrats allied with and then crushed the left. The leftists supported Khomeini because they thought he was anti-Western and anti-imperialist, but they did not realize that he was also a religious leader who wanted to impose his own views on society. The leftists also made mistakes by not focusing on women’s rights and human rights, and by not realizing the potential for fascism in Khomeini’s regime.
nighthawk_md | 10 hours ago
I've heard all that before, but it still seems dangerously naive, in retrospect or not. Certainly Khomeini had writings or a manifesto or whatever that detailed his treacherous ideas? You can always count on leftists to be their own worst critics.
oasisnotes | 5 hours ago
Khomeini didn't have writings per se - he had recordings.
Khomeini had been sent into exile prior to the Revolution largely due to his outspoken opposition to Western influence and the Iranian state's support for Israel. This had actually set him apart from the vast majority of the Shia clergy at the time, who had pursued a 'quietist' policy in politics - basically they avoided talking about or engaging with politics in general. Khomeini's break with this tradition made him seem like an atypical clergy member, and that coupled with his political stances made him seem at least amenable to left wing thought.
However, while in exile, Khomeini began giving lectures on his thought, which trended more explicitly theocratic. These lectures were recorded and passed around his supporters via cassette tapes. Because of the Shah's repression, these tapes were mostly hidden from the public and only heard by his supporters. Given what was known about him at the time, and the fact that his actual beliefs were somewhat hidden, it's not unbelievable that many left-wing forces in Iran were caught off-guard.
vote4boat | 6 hours ago
I think he was explicitly against theocracy, until he wasn't
rightsidedown | an hour ago
There was a PBS report on this a few months ago. The conclusion in that report was that people were aware, but had deluded themselves into thinking they had the upper hand in support and would be able to handle Khomeini, but otherwise this article aligns pretty well with how things went down in the PBS report.