It is rather problematic to determine the elements in the Islamic Revolution of 1979 that can be viewed as non-conservative in their nature. On the one hand, the activities of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini and his supporters were oriented toward developing a republic based on conservative Islamic teachings and views. Thus, “The central themes of Islamic fundamentalism included the concept that Islamic religious rules and moral principles must be integrated with government and influence all aspects of society.” On the other hand, some of the achievements of the Revolution can be regarded as not conservative in their character, and they include the development of the educational, scientific, and healthcare spheres, for example.
The ideology and tools used by Khomeini and his supporters in order to realize the goals of the Revolution can be discussed as conservative. However, to achieve some progress in the post-revolutionary state, the leader needed to focus on developing such spheres as education, science, and healthcare among others while using rather modern and non-conservative approaches. For instance, the focus was on developing higher education related to engineering, technology, and law, but women were not allowed to work in these positions. Still, women were allowed to be enrolled in universities in spite of the fact they did not have opportunities to realize their professional potential. Instead, much attention was paid to the development of the scientific and technological potential of the country with reference to Muslim men’s achievements in these areas.
It is also possible to state that the observed “return to true (Shia) Islam” also reflects other revolutionary movements in Islamic states. Similar returns to traditions and the focus on conservative norms associated with Islam were also observed in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria. Recently, related views have also been noticed in the context of the Arab Spring. Similarities in these movements oriented toward the overthrowing of existing regimes were associated with the proclamation of the traditional and rather conservative principles of Islam as the basis for revolutionary actions. The focus was on uniting Muslims referring to their views and beliefs as the explanation of their goals as not only a religious group but also as a nation. From this perspective, the “return to true (Shia) Islam” in Muslim countries is usually associated with radical changes in regimes. These changes are also the results of violent military revolts and civil wars, in which the norms of Islam are widely declared and protected.