Comparative Analysis of the Westernzation in Iran and Turkey under Reza Shah and Ataturk

In the early decades of the twentieth century, semi-modern states emerged in Iran and Turkey. Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, who managed to establish Turkey on the remains of the Ottoman Empire, tried hard to modernize turkey with Anti-religious approach. In Reza Khan successfully toppled the rotten Qajar Dynasty and took hold of the throne, Likewise, he believed in modernization through the process of westernization. Foreign relations between two countries, and especially Reza Shah`s historic visit to Turkey, Strengthened the theoretical bond of the two rulers. when Rezashah returned, he became more determined in his Westernization policy and particularly unveiling women. Despite similar theoretical approaches and the influence of Turkey on Iran, Comparing the westernization of Ataturk and that of Reza Shah reveals many differences in their magnitude and range. Ataturk omitted religious ranking, religious schools Sharia courts, and monasteries. He prohibited any religious signs and established European anti-Islamic civil law; he promulgated the payer, Quran, and Azan to be done in Turkish, and made a weakened change from Friday to Sunday; none were done by Reza Shah. The resistance in the two countries was different too. There was no social mobilization in Turkey and the resistance was regional and temporary. The question of this paper is which factors,despite similar theoretical approach, caused. the different achievements of Reza Shah and Ataturk. The main factor that can explain these differences (differences in the magnitude and the type of resistance) is "religion and the organization of clergies. Moreover, the lack of deep thought tradition in turkey, turkey’s neighborhood with west, strong bureaucracy remained from Ottoman Empire and finally territorial threats by Greeks are other influential elements.