Winds of Change: The Future of Democracy in Iran

by Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi

Forced to become a normal citizen, the exiled son of the late Shah of Iran attempts to provide understanding and direction for his country and its people.

Genres: Politics, Iran, Nonfiction, Middle East, Political Science, Islam

152 pages, Hardcover

First published December 18, 2001

About the author

His Imperial Highness Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi was born in Tehran, Iran on October 31, 1960 as the heir to the late Mohammad Reza Shah of Iran and Empress Farah Pahlavi of Iran. He was officially named Crown Prince in 1967 at the time of his father's coronation. In 1978, at the age of 17, he left Iran for jet fighter training in the United States Air Force at Reese Air Force Base in Lubbock, Texas. During this same period, the building unrest in Iran led to the royal family's departure in January 1979. And, during the instability that followed, the Government of Iran was taken over by Islamists. The Islamists established a theocratic regime, preventing Reza Pahlavi's return to his homeland. Reza Pahlavi completed the United States Air Force Training Program. During his first exile years, he continued and completed his higher education with a degree in political science from the University of Southern California. As an accomplished jet fighter pilot, Reza Pahlavi volunteered to serve his country's military as a fighter pilot during the Iran-Iraq War, but was declined by the clerical regime. Despite being forced to live in exile, Reza Pahlavi's commitment and patriotic duty to Iran endures. For almost four decades, Reza Pahlavi has been a leader and advocate of the principles of freedom, democracy and human rights for his countrymen. He maintains constant contact with his compatriots and opposition groups, both inside and outside the country. Pahlavi travels the world meeting with heads of state, legislators, policy-makers, interest groups and student groups speaking about the plight of Iranians under the Islamic regime in Iran. He consistently speaks out against the widespread abuse and oppression of the Iranian people and calls for the establishment of a secular democracy in Iran. He calls for regime change through non-violent civil disobedience, and for a free and open referendum on a new government of Iran. In addition to numerous articles published, Reza Pahlavi has written three books on the state of affairs in Iran: Gozashteh va Ayandeh (Kayhan Publishing, 2000); Winds of Change: The Future of Democracy in Iran (Regnery, 2002); and IRAN: L'Heure du Choix [IRAN: The Deciding Hour] (Denoël, 2009). He also has a featured column in The Huffington Post. Reza Pahlavi has lived in exile since 1979. He married Yasmine Etemad-Amini on June 12, 1986. They have three daughters: Noor Pahlavi (born April 3, 1992), Iman Pahlavi (born September 12, 1993), and Farah Pahlavi (born January 17, 2004). Reza Pahlavi strongly believes in the inherent equal rights between men and women; and, as such, has stated that his daughters Noor, Iman and Farah are, successively, his heirs. Yasmine Pahlavi graduated from The George Washington University in Washington, DC, obtaining a B.A. in Political Science; and later, a Doctorate in Jurisprudence from The George Washington University Law School. She worked for ten years as a staff attorney for the Children’s Law Center in Washington, DC, representing the rights and cases of hundreds youth in the DC family courts system. In 1991 she co-founded, and for 23 years was the Director of, the Foundation for the Children of Iran. The purpose of the Foundation was and remains to provide critical health care services to Iranian children or children of Iranian origin regardless of race, color, creed, religious or political affiliation. Yasmine is currently a vocal supporter of the democracy movement in Iran, appearing at pro-democracy rallies, events and panels in many cities through the years.' to 'His Imperial Highness Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi was born in Tehran, Iran on October 31, 1960 as the heir to the late Mohammad Reza Shah of Iran and Empress Farah Pahlavi of Iran. He was officially named Crown Prince in 1967 at the time of his father's coronation. In 1978, at the age of 17, he left Iran for jet fighter training in the United States Air Force at Reese Air Force Base in Lubbock, Texas. During this same

Reviews

[Afshin Salehi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book was written in 2002. However, it still vividly makes sense today.

The crown prince saw a truth 3 decades ago that western politicians are hardly seeing today...

He saw that the voting process in the Islamic Republic is anti-democratic. You must elect either 3 or four of the regimes' favorites. And if you do not participate, you lose your job, etc. And under this political system, everything gets worse and not better.

He saw that the goals of this regime would ultimately lead the country into poverty and war.

The book saw a nuanced fact, that nothing in the Islamic Republic is genuine.

The book contains other amazing things as well, that I'm not going to spoil.

A must-read book!

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting yet dated look into the future of both Iran and the nation's opposition movement by Reza Pahlavi, the last heir apparent to the throne of the Imperial State of Iran. Pahlavi argues for a non-violent campaign of protest and civil disobedience against the current regime, emulating successful protest movements of other nations. A large part of the book deals with the hypothetical systems of government that could arise in a post-regime Iran, and the pros and cons of each of them. Interestingly enough, Pahlavi does not want to re-establish an iron-fisted rule of Iran by the monarchy, rather he would want the royal family to play a role of ceremony, and be a non-partisan stabilizer to a democratically elected government, similar to the role of royal families in Europe today.

[Kaytash · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished the book. I spent the last two weeks of my spare times on this and would call it a good read. I just noticed there is a audible version of it on amazon which you can use the free audible subscription and it is only about 2 hours and 38 minutes listening. It was written in 2013 but it resonates to today as the people of Iran are fighting for their freedoms.

[Haley Pimley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although outdated the points and themes are still relevant today. This book does a great job of laying different paths to a democratic Iran. A great read if you want to learn more about what Iran faces and the many options for the future.

[Shayan Mohebi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hope to one day visit a free and democratic Iran ♥️

[Cole Himali · Rating 3 out of 5]

decent for some propaganda. I agreed with a lot of his ideas though

[Innocent · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is a naive geopolitical thought exercise, unfortunately put to paper by Reza Pahlavi, the son of the last Shah of Iran. It is very short and reads like a combination of a State Department memo and a middle school class project. The content consists solely of proposed futures, lacking any explanation of how these futures will be achieved. I am genuinely shocked to find that a man who should be among the most well-informed and practical individuals regarding the issue of Iranian governmental change and reform could come across as so naive, uninformed, and disconnected from reality.

[Lucas Proto · Rating 1 out of 5]

A laughable attempt from Reza Pahlavi, son of the infamous Reza Sha of Iran, to show himself as the unifier his country needs to achieve a true democracy.

Pahlavi avoids any reference to Iran before the 1979 revolution, which ousted his father, condemns theocracy and calls for a peaceful revolution, all while spewing as many truisms and tautologies as a book just short of 150 pages can contain.

Even if his work was just a well-intentioned manifesto without personal interests at stake -which it isn't-, it would be naïve at best and dangerously stupid at worst.