An Evaluation Study of the Political Consequences of the Second Pahlavi's Oil Economy

The purpose of the present study is to explore rentierism in the second Pahlavi regime. The method of study is descriptive analysis and the results showed that the most important political consequence of the oil economy in Iran can be the rentier state during the second Pahlavi regime. Rising oil prices led to a highly noticeable increase in SAVAK budget and the Shah used this factor to suppress public opposition inside the country more than ever. SAVAK, recognizing it was given a more extensive role compared to the first pre-shock stage, felt free to suppress the regime's opponents and continued its measures without any concern. Of course, it should be noted that the Shah's oppression and dictatorship created a sense of terror and horror in people's heart and they attributed all these measures to the Shah and hated him more than before. Autocracy and repression intensified by the Shah before the revolution insomuch that a group of writers and researchers of the Islamic revolution have considered the severe autocracy and repression during the Pahlavi regime as the main causes of the revolution.