The Role of Political Culture of the Sovereign Elites in the Collapse of Mohammad Reza Shah (Case Study of Amir Abbas Howeyda's Administration)

This paper wants to survey the cause of collapse of Mohammad Reza Shah in bahman 1357, considering the influence of Prime Minister Amir Abbas Howeyda as a main cause among the various factors such as the role of political culture of sovereign elites The lack of proper political culture among the sovereign political elites has been an obstacle for political development and efficiency of the mechanisms of legal political participation. Political elites didn’t pay attention to the people`s political demands and had a perpetuated competition to seduce Mohammad Reza Shah. So they intensified the king`s pride and sycophantic ethos and drew him to an authoritarian conduct. This resulted in participation crisis and increasing legitimacy crisis. In result of the closure of legitimate and peaceful channels, informal elites tried in violent dismissal of sovereign elites, especially Mohammad Reza Shah.