What impact and reflection the Islamic Revolution of Iran has had on
the theories of revolution? This is the question the present article seeks
to answer. After a glance over the theories of revolution at the time
when the Islamic Revolution was underway, a glance which is carried
out based on two important works: Jack Goldstone (1980) and Stan
Tylor (1984) the writer follows the impact of the Islamic Revolution in
two areas which are the third generation of theories of revolution, and,
more importantly, the formation of the fourth generation of theories of
revolution, whose departure point and origin of formation is Islamic
Revolution. These four approaches derived from the Islamic
Revolution are: 1. Cultural Approaches (with many thinkers). 2. The
Third World social revolution approach of John Foran. 3. The Spiritual
Approach of Michele Foucault. 4. Metaphysical or Gnostic Approach
of Leyli Eshghi. These four approaches are described and explained
relatively in detail in the text of the article.
Thus, this article, in addition to introduction and conclusion, consists
of two main sections with the headings of theories of revolution prior
to the Islamic Revolution of Iran, which is comprised of the classical
and modern literature and theories, and theories of revolution after the
Islamic Revolution of Iran, which, in turn, consists of two
sub-categories of revision applied by some theorists of the third
generation in their theories, and the birth of the fourth generation of
modern theories ofrevolution. It is in this final section that the four
approaches of Cultural, Third Word, Spiritual, and Gnostic are
discussed in detail.
Key Words: Islamic Revolution of Iran, Theories of Revolution,
Cultural Approach, Third Word Approach, Spiritual Approach,
Metaphysical or Gnostic Approach.