Autocracy, Modernization, and Revolution in Russia and Iran

by Tim McDaniel

What did the Russian revolution of 1917 and the Iranian revolution of 1978-1979 share besides their drama? How can we compare a revolution led by Lenin with one inspired by Khomeini? How is a revolution based primarily on the urban working class similar to one founded to a significant degree on traditional groups like the bazaaris, small craftsmen, and religious students and preachers? Identifying a distinctive route to modernity--autocratic modernization--Tim McDaniel explores the dilemmas inherent in the efforts of autocratic monarchies in Russia and Iran to transform their countries into modern industrial societies.

Originally published in 1991.

The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.

261 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1991

Reviews

[Chet]

I haven't read much Tim McDaniel beyond this book but he seems to be one of those rare Western academics who's ahead of the curve and really "gets it." This dropped in the 90s and back then I don't know if many in the university were all that curious about parallels between Russia's revolution (1917) and Iran's (1979). And as McDaniel acknowledges those to whom he posed the idea found it a bit ludicrous. One class based, one religious. One anchored in heavy industry, the other rural-populist. Different parts of the world. 6 decades apart. Yet here we are in 2024 and "multipolarity" is all the rage. "The Rest" are rising up and giving the middle finger to the West. "Dedollarization" is another buzzword that gets thrown around in these contexts. And of course at the center of much of this heat are two countries we all know and love: Russia and Iran. I teased a friend of mine during one of our recent conversations for thinking the I in BRICS stood for Iran, but in all seriousness who could fault him the error? Iran (recent parliamentary shakeups aside) is positioned to be one of the contending powers able to flex at keeping Anglo-American imperialism at bay, and in that regard it falls behind only Russia and China. So if you're curious about what makes Marxism-Leninism a little bit Islamic. Or if you've always suspected that Shia Islam contains a grain of class struggle within it, then check out McDaniel's lengthy, unusual, and creative compare and contrast essay. You won't be disappointed.