The Contemporary History of Iran - Part 26: “Khomeinism”

“Khomeinism” - Part 26 of the Roqe Media series, The Contemporary History of Iran. Of all the figures of modern Iranian history, few draw more of a reflexive reaction than the leader who was centre of the revolution of 1979: Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Who was the man that led the creation of the Islamic Republic which remains the regime in power in Iran today? And was he, in fact, a fundamentalist clergyman, or…a shrewd populist? And how, despite a decade of turbulence in Iran, did he stay in power until his death in 1989? In short, what was Khomeinism? Esteemed scholar and author, Dr Ervand Abrahamian, considered one of the preeminent Iranian historians of his generation and a leading historian on modern Iran, joins Jian Ghomeshi from New York for the second of two consecutive conversations, this time focusing on the political mind and legacy of Khomeini.