2.6. Brave Little Persia. Iran since the 20th century.
Today we talk about the rise, the policies, the downfall and the legacy of Reza Khan, the founder of the Pahlavi dynasty. Under his rule, Iran was irrevocably transformed. Many of these changes still resonate today. Perhaps his most enduring legacy, is the struggle between Mosque and State, especially over the issue of the chador, or hijab. This is a matter of worldwide controversy to this day, and this episode in Iran's history may teach us valuable lessons about its nature. It also illustrates just how difficult it is to tackle such issues. The episode starts and ends with a world war: while the first brought Reza Khan to power, the second brought him down. For the Iranian population as a whole, these were two traumatizing experiences. They make the enduring mistrust of the outside world more understandable. And they bring some more nuance of our idea of World War II as being a fight between Good and Evil.