International factors in revolution: The Cold War bipolar actors at the system level and the Iranian Revolution of 1978--1979

The problem analyzed in this dissertation is whether international factors were contributory causal factors in the Iranian Revolution of 1978--1979. Three theoretical frameworks were selected to explore this problem: theories of revolution, theories of international relations and theories of intervention. The units of analysis are the state and the international system. Declassified documents were examined. Interviews with the ruling political elite of the old regime and other statements were consulted and conducted to gain the perspective and insight of the pre-revolutionary state of the Shah's regime.; The Iranian Revolution is shown to be an integral part of the Cold War international system and the Regional Middle East system. International factors are shown to be a complement to domestic factors. Both Cold War polar actors at the system level---the United States and the Soviet Union---were found to have been causal factors in the revolution.; The causes of the Iranian Revolution were shown to have been international factors, domestic factors, and a responsive state---domestically and internationally.