Reza Shah and his Western Reforms

Reza Shah did what he believed was necessary to do in Iran.  He believed that he needed to "modernize" Iran and kick out the traditional way of life in order to compete in the changing world around him.  The traditional culture essentially failed in the face of Westernization.  There was tremendous pressure to rebuild and keep up with the Western powers after the fall of the Ottoman Empire, and Reza Shah did what he felt was necessary to survive in these times.  He forced women to unveil and gave them more say in everyday life.  This was the first time that women truly had some power in the Middle East and that was a huge step in westernization.  He also created a state university even though he was illiterate himself.  The creation of the university was another example of the westernization that was happening in Iran under Reza Shah.  In the end though, these new reforms failed.  The people didn't truly adapt to the new policies and they still had ties to the traditional culture.  The traditional culture was eventually brought back and Reza Shah's reforms were a thing of the past.  You can't really blame Reza Shah for what he tried to do in Iran, and I believe it was completely necessary in order to survive at the time.