Relying on a neo-patrimonial, rentier, and clientelist structure, the second Pahlavi government gradually moved away from the political openness of the 1940s, ultimately reaching a state of total political closure by the 1970s. Adopting a historical-sociological approach and a descriptive-analytical method, this study examines the process by which the opposition transitioned from reformist activism within the constitutional framework to a revolutionary coalition aimed at overthrowing the monarchy.
Research findings indicate that political blockage and systematic repression blurred the distinction between the legal opposition and hostile factions, driving opponents—despite fundamental differences—toward a tactical agreement to overthrow the regime. The escalation of radicalism on both sides, coupled with an economic crisis, the public's rising expectations of the government, Carter's human rights policy, and bureaucratic inefficiency, paved the way for a class-based coalition rallying around a unified leadership and, ultimately, the collapse of the monarchy. This study presents a process-oriented model to explain the transition from reformism to revolution.