In the spring of 1951, the Iranian government nationalized the British-controlled oil industry, supported by a massive popular movement. The National Front, which led the movement, mainly consisted of three social groups: the clergy (ulama), secular intellectuals, and the bazaaris (merchants, guilds, and artisans). Despite its importance, the role of the bazaaris has not sufficiently been articulated in previous studies.
This study analyzes the role of the Tehran bazaaris in the oil nationalization movement, focusing on the period of the first government of Mosaddeq. Protest event analysis is used to test the religious explanation and the economic explanation of the bazaaris’ political activities. The results reveal the rivalry among the Tehran bazaaris over the economic and political advantages. This paper shows how this rivalry was related to the oil nationalization movement.
","abstract_html":"<p>In the spring of 1951, the Iranian government nationalized the British-controlled oil industry, supported by a massive popular movement. The National Front, which led the movement, mainly consisted of three social groups: the clergy (<em>ulama</em>), secular intellectuals, and the bazaaris (merchants, guilds, and artisans). Despite its importance, the role of the <em>bazaaris</em> has not sufficiently been articulated in previous studies.</p> <p>This study analyzes the role of the Tehran <em>bazaaris</em> in the oil nationalization movement, focusing on the period of the first government of Mosaddeq. Protest event analysis is used to test the religious explanation and the economic explanation of the <em>bazaaris</em>’ political activities. The results reveal the rivalry among the Tehran <em>bazaaris</em> over the economic and political advantages. This paper shows how this rivalry was related to the oil nationalization movement.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Nukii, Mari"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Arts (MA)","degree_level":"Open Access Thesis","degree_discipline":"Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminology","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Mansoor Moaddel, PhD, Chair","Denise Reiling, PhD","Janice Terry, PhD"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2005,"date_issued":"2005-01-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2005-01-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:16:30Z","subjects":["Petroleum industry and trade Government ownership Iran","Merchants Iran Tehran Political activity History 20th century","Jabhah-i Millià (Iran)","Anthropology","Sociology"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://commons.emich.edu/theses/121","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Mansoor Moaddel, PhD, Chair","Denise Reiling, PhD","Janice Terry, PhD"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Nukii, Mari"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminology"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Open Access Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Arts (MA)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Petroleum industry and trade Government ownership Iran","Merchants Iran Tehran Political activity History 20th century","Jabhah-i Millià (Iran)","Anthropology","Sociology"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://commons.emich.edu/theses/121"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["In the spring of 1951, the Iranian government nationalized the British-controlled oil industry, supported by a massive popular movement. The National Front, which led the movement, mainly consisted of three social groups: the clergy (ulama), secular intellectuals, and the bazaaris (merchants, guilds, and artisans). Despite its importance, the role of the bazaaris has not sufficiently been articulated in previous studies.
This study analyzes the role of the Tehran bazaaris in the oil nationalization movement, focusing on the period of the first government of Mosaddeq. Protest event analysis is used to test the religious explanation and the economic explanation of the bazaaris’ political activities. The results reveal the rivalry among the Tehran bazaaris over the economic and political advantages. This paper shows how this rivalry was related to the oil nationalization movement.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["The role of the Tehran Bazaaris in protest events under the first government of Mosaddeq in Iran (29 April 1951 - 21 July 1952)"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Mansoor Moaddel, PhD, Chair","Denise Reiling, PhD","Janice Terry, PhD"],"dc:creator":["Nukii, Mari"],"dc:description.abstract":["In the spring of 1951, the Iranian government nationalized the British-controlled oil industry, supported by a massive popular movement. The National Front, which led the movement, mainly consisted of three social groups: the clergy (ulama), secular intellectuals, and the bazaaris (merchants, guilds, and artisans). Despite its importance, the role of the bazaaris has not sufficiently been articulated in previous studies.
This study analyzes the role of the Tehran bazaaris in the oil nationalization movement, focusing on the period of the first government of Mosaddeq. Protest event analysis is used to test the religious explanation and the economic explanation of the bazaaris’ political activities. The results reveal the rivalry among the Tehran bazaaris over the economic and political advantages. This paper shows how this rivalry was related to the oil nationalization movement.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://commons.emich.edu/theses/121"],"dc:subject":["Petroleum industry and trade Government ownership Iran","Merchants Iran Tehran Political activity History 20th century","Jabhah-i Millià (Iran)","Anthropology","Sociology"],"dc:title":["The role of the Tehran Bazaaris in protest events under the first government of Mosaddeq in Iran (29 April 1951 - 21 July 1952)"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminology"],"thesis:degree_level":["Open Access Thesis"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Arts (MA)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:16:30Z"}