Cold War Developmentalism in the Periphery - the Case of Gilan 1960s-1970s

The 1960s and 1970s were the period in which Iran, like some other countries in the Global South, enjoyed an unprecedented level of development. Although many similarities, development did not follow a homogeneous pattern in the center and the periphery of the country.

This research explores the complexities of the process of development and its main agents in the region of Gilan (situated in northern Iran) during the Cold War up to the Iranian Revolution of 1978-79. At the same time, it assesses to what extent the outcomes of this process were instrumental in molding the reaction of Gilan’s society to the Iranian Revolution. By focusing on the region of Gilan as a case study in the Global South, this study also provides an analysis of Cold War ideas of development and their interconnectedness and impact on the transforming society of Iran from a local perspective.