The Impact of British Imperialist Policies on the Formation of the Constitutionalism Discourse in Iran
Keywords:
Censorship, State-controlled press, SAVAK, Cultural hegemony, Official discourse, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, Cold War, Media and powerAbstract
This article offers a comparative analysis of the press suppression and control policies during Mohammad Reza Pahlavi’s reign, focusing specifically on the 1940s and 1960s. Employing a historical-analytical approach and drawing on the theoretical frameworks of Gramsci, Althusser, and Chomsky, the study explores the evolution of media control mechanisms and the ideological engineering of public opinion in these two key decades. Findings indicate that the 1940s witnessed a relatively open press environment due to the weakened central authority following Reza Shah’s abdication and the multiplicity of political actors, enabling the proliferation of partisan and independent newspapers. By contrast, the 1960s marked a period of rigid media control, as the monarchy consolidated power, SAVAK (the secret police) expanded its influence, and censorship was institutionalized under the guise of modernization, political stability, and anti-communism. The tools of control were not limited to security forces and legal restrictions but also included economic dependencies and discursive strategies to legitimize censorship. The study concludes that while these measures temporarily unified the official political discourse, they ultimately led to a crisis of legitimacy, growing public distrust, and the regime’s inability to implement internal reforms. The article argues that a free press is not only essential for transparency and political participation but also plays a crucial role in preserving the legitimacy of public institutions. The study further calls for re-evaluation of Iran’s history of media censorship through interdisciplinary and comparative research.
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