The Shah's regime was unpopular for many reasons.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2022). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [1] (a) This was a programme of reform which began in 1963.
2. [1] (a) Its aim was to make Iran similar to the Western powers.
3. [1] (a) It was introduced by the Shah.
4. [1] (a) One of its main features was land reform.
5. [1] (a) Healthcare was to be reformed.
6. [1] (a) Education would be reformed.
7. [1] (a) Infrastructure was to be reformed so that people had electricity and running water.
8. [1] (a) The programme of reform ended in 1979.
9. [1] (b) Mussadeq was overthrown in 1953.
10. [1] (b) Mussadeq was popular and the West supported his overthrow.
11. [1] (b) The West supported the Shah to protect their own interests in oil.
12. [1] (b) US imports undercut Iranian farmers.
13. [1] (b) Iranians felt there was a threat to the Muslim culture/Western culture was too permissive.
14. [1] (b) Western culture promoted wealth but most Iranians were poor.
15. [5] (b) There was resentment of Western influence in Iran because the Shah's rule was associated with the British and Americans who were keen to protect their own interests rather than benefit Iran. Iranians believed that the West supported the Shah because they were interested in keeping oil supplies for the West secure.
16. [1] (c) Economic reforms had failed.
17. [1] (c) There was huge disparity between rich and poor.
18. [1] (c) The gap between rich and poor was growing wider.
19. [1] (c) SAVAK was hated.
20. [1] (c) Informers were used to control the population.
21. [5] (c) Economic concerns were important to the growth of opposition to the Shah. There was a great disparity in wealth between the richest and poorest Iranians and this situation had grown worse in the 1960s and 1970s. The promised economic reforms had not benefited the people of Iran. The poorest people lived in shanty towns with no running water or paved roads. Meanwhile, the rich lived in luxury.
22. [5] (c) Repression was important in causing the Iranian people to turn against the Shah. His secret police, SAVAK, used brutal methods and a system of informers to keep control over the population. In 1977 the Shah relaxed police controls, thinking this would save his regime. However, it led to a flood of opposition towards him.
23. [10] (c) Explanation of both sides (Level 4, 7-9 marks) with evaluation of 'how far' (Level 5, 10 marks).