Oil revenues, Reproduction of Subjective Political Culture and Authoritarianism in Iran (1957-1979)

In the Rentier State theory, oil revenues are the cause of government autonomy and rise of authoritarianism. Rent has impact on the nature, structure and functions of state, but its mere existence would not the cause of state autonomous and authoritarianism. Establishment of the authoritarianism in oil producing countries requires a background of the subjective political culture. On this basis, the oil revenues are not determinant element but only a suitable factor for cultural engineering and reproduction subjective political culture in these societies. Therefore the state domination over society is based on cultural and political structures that exist in these communities from the past, and oil revenues only assist them to reproduce them. This article reviews the role of Pahlavi state and institutions such as education system, cultural centers and mass media in the reproduction of subjective political culture and creation of authoritarianism in Iran during the 1957-1979.