This paper deals with the role of bureaucracy and state in society. It examines the political regime-enhancement role and economic development role of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) in Iran before and after the revolution of 1978 - 79 .

While the MARD transformed rural feudalism into capitalism and enhanced the Pahlavi regime, it failed to promote agricultural development. An agriculturaly self-sufficient Iran became almost totally dependent, and a massive rural exodus of more than nine million became a major force for the revolution of 1978-79.

Two major trends in post-revolutionary Iran are identified and explained: initial debureaucratization of society along with an egalitarian agricultural and rural policy and the rebureaucratization of society and a policy in favor of large private landholding since 1983.

The author analyzes the nature of growing public disbatisfaction with the bureaucracy, and outlines alternatives to reduce this dissatisfaction and to promote agricultural and rural development.