[custom_adv]
Ashraf Pahlavi’s life encapsulates the contradictions of 20th-century politics—a blend of elite privilege and realpolitik, of progressive reform and autocratic excess. For some, she represents a trailblazing woman who challenged gender norms and promoted national advancement. For others, she symbolizes a disconnected and corrupt ruling elite, part of a system that failed to understand or address the needs of the people.
