The Literacy corps in Pahlavi Iran (1963-1979)

SKU: 37693cfc7480 Category:

Description

Political, social and literary implications

This is an investigation into the Literacy Corps (sepah-e danesh) which evolved within the White Revolution (enqelab-e sefid) in Iran (1963 to 1979). This was a programme which combined political, social and economic policies within Muhammad Reza Shah’s strong secularism facilitating the expansion of secular education, equal rights for women and the marginalization of the ulema. Its aim was to propel Iran to the level of modern (Western) countries before the end of the twentieth century. Land reform was its cornerstone and the sixth point concerned the creation of the Literacy Corps.
According to this educational programme, young men with a secondary school diploma (mainly middle-class urban youth) could choose to serve in the Literacy Corps instead of spending two years in the regular army. The basic hypothesis was that most Iranians were illiterate and illiterate workers impeded economic development.
The Literacy Corps was considered the most economical way to improve literacy and a means of enlisting urban youth to work in villages.
This book argues that the Literacy Corps had an impact not only on the literacy level of rural Iranians but also on the corpsmen’s own perception of the regime. In fact, while employed in the villages, some of the educated Literacy Corps urban youth studied revolutionary literature, and gradually developed their own political views. My findings show the Literacy Corps fostered the growth of political ideas which went against the regime and eventually exploded in the Islamic Revolution of 1979.

 

ISBN: 978.88.8380.002.3

Prezzo euro: 33

Collana: Tesi universitarie

Numero collana:

Anno: 2002

detail product

  • Pages : N/A
  • Cover design : N/A
  • Publisher : N/A
  • Language : N/A
  • ISBN : 978.88.8380.002.3
  • Product Dimensions : N/A
  • Released : 2002

about the author