The Geopolitical Impact of the Islamic Revolution of Iran on Shiite Communities around the World

The Islamic Revolution of Iran, under the leadership of Imam Khomeini, has been one of the most important events of the second half of the Twentieth Century, whose impacts have not been confined to the national boundaries of Iran. The Islamic Revolution has promoted self-awareness among Muslim, and particularly Shiite communities, especially those in the Middle East. The Revolution has introduced the Shiite faith to the world. As a result, Shiite communities in various parts of the Middle East formed their own political parties and organizations to play a part in the political lives of their own societies. In this paper, the authors assess various aspects of the politicization of Shiite communities from a geopolitical point of view.