From Nazi Germany to Iran’s Monarchist Revival
Donald John Trump, Reza Pahlavi, Benjamin Netanyahu, Viktor Mihály Orbán, Marine Le Pen, Adolf Hitler
This article explores how national humiliation and loss of status can lead to the rise of extremist ideologies. In The Status Game, author Will Storr argues that the human craving for status underpins much of our behavior, from innovation to conflict. One key manifestation of this, as Storr highlights, is how collective humiliation can drive nations toward radical movements that promise to restore their lost pride and power.
Storr uses Nazi Germany as a prominent example. Following the deep national humiliation caused by the Treaty of Versailles and the economic devastation after World War I, Adolf Hitler’s rise was fueled by promises to restore Germany’s greatness. Hitler’s appeal to the collective pride of a diminished nation and his pledge to unite the people for revenge and power led to one of the most devastating extremist movements in history. Germany’s loss of status created fertile ground for radicalization and militarism (Storr, 2021).
The same psychological mechanism can be observed in modern contexts, particularly in Europe and the United States. In the U.S., Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) movement capitalized on economic and cultural grievances, particularly among rural and working-class communities that felt sidelined by globalization and demographic changes. Trump’s message of a revitalized, powerful America resonated with those who felt left behind, promising to restore the nation’s former glory and dignity. Similarly, far-right nationalist parties across Europe have surged as feelings of displacement, exacerbated by immigration and economic inequality, fuel a desire to reclaim lost national identity. goo
This pattern of seeking restored dignity is also evident in Iran, where opposition groups increasingly turn to the country’s ancient national identity in response to the Islamic Republic’s perceived failures on the global stage. The growing popularity of monarchist figures like Reza Pahlavi, son of the last Shah, reflects a desire to return to a time of perceived greatness before the 1979 revolution. Pahlavi offers an alternative to theocratic governance, promoting a vision of Iran as a secular, proud nation respected internationally. A 2022 Gamaan survey revealed that 22% of Iranians preferred a constitutional monarchy, with support for Pahlavi increasing, especially in light of the regime’s suppression of the Woman, Life, Freedom movement (Gamaan, 2022).
This nostalgia is further fueled by pro-Pahlavi documentaries, often aired on ambiguously funded satellite channels, which reinforce the narrative of Iran’s glorious past. In the absence of independent media, these narratives fill a void, amplifying support for a return to pre-revolutionary ideals. Before the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Iran, under Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, was regarded as a progressive, influential power in the region. The Shah promoted national pride by emphasizing Iran’s imperial past, most notably through the 1971 celebration of the 2,500th anniversary of the Persian Empire. This event symbolized Iran’s resurgence as a modern nation with deep historical roots, further legitimizing the Shah’s rule on the international stage (Axworthy, 2013).
However, the 1979 revolution drastically altered Iran’s trajectory, replacing the Shah’s nationalism with a revolutionary religious ideology. The Islamic Republic’s policies led to international isolation, and many Iranians have since felt the weight of national humiliation due to human rights violations and regional conflicts. In response, opposition groups increasingly invoke symbols from Iran’s ancient Achaemenid Empire and Zoroastrianism, seeking to reclaim Iran’s historical dignity and presenting a vision of a secular, modern Iran (Axworthy, 2013; Gamaan, 2022).
The rise of nationalist sentiment in Iran, as in other parts of the world, demonstrates the power of status and pride in shaping political movements. However, the embrace of historical nostalgia as a solution to present challenges comes with risks. When nations look to the past for answers, they may overlook the complexities of their current realities, and in the process, fall into the trap of repeating history. Just as nationalist and extremist ideologies can mobilize people by promising a return to greatness, they can also lead to dangerous cycles of authoritarianism and exclusion if not critically examined. This warns of the dangers that come with seeking status restoration through narrow and often exclusionary ideologies (Storr, 2021).
References
Axworthy, M. (2013). Revolutionary Iran: A history of the Islamic Republic. Oxford University Press.
Gamaan. (2022). Survey on political attitudes in Iran. The Gamaan Institute. Retrieved from https://www.gamaan.org/
Storr, W. (2021). The Status Game: On social position and how we use it. William Collins.
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