A Sociological Analysis of Modernist Tendencies from the Constitutional Revolution to the Islamic Revolution
Keywords:
Modernism, Discourse Analysis, Constitutional Era, Pahlavi Era, Islamic RevolutionAbstract
This study examines the formation and evolution of modernist tendencies in Iran from the era of the Constitutional Revolution to the Islamic Revolution. Given the nature of the inquiry, the research falls within the domain of the social sciences and aims to apply its findings to the broader target society. The methodology is grounded in constructivist and interpretivist paradigms, allowing the researcher to interact directly with the data and interpret meanings to address complex societal issues. This qualitative approach, through inductive reasoning, facilitates the discovery of meaningful patterns in social data. The present study employs the strategy of critical discourse analysis following the approach of Laclau and Mouffe to investigate the modernist orientations of six prominent Iranian intellectuals spanning from the Qajar to the Pahlavi periods: Mirza Malkam Khan, Mirza Yusef Khan Mostashar al-Dowleh, Jalal Al-e-Ahmad, Ali Shariati, Abdolkarim Soroush, and Mahmoud Dowlatabadi. Sampling in this study was carried out purposively to effectively analyze the presence or absence of concepts within texts. The unit of analysis includes the full content of books, speeches, and newspapers related to the discourse of modernity in Iran. The findings indicate that each intellectual, based on their historical and social context as well as their religious and cultural beliefs, adopted a distinct approach to modernity. Malkam Khan, by emphasizing the law as the salvation of Iran, implicitly endorses the grand narrative of Western modernity. Mostashar al-Dowleh seeks to localize the principles of modernity within the framework of Islamic Sharia. Al-e-Ahmad characterizes Western modernity as a disease and a cause of Westoxification. Shariati, by advocating a return to an Islamic self, aims to present an alternative model to Western modernity. Soroush, emphasizing religious intellectualism, views modernity as a historical and cultural phenomenon that manifests in diverse forms. Dowlatabadi, through his novel Kelidar, depicts the impact of modern elements on rural society, presenting modernity as a complex and multidimensional phenomenon. This research demonstrates that the discourse of modernity in Iran has not been monolithic or unified, and that Iranian intellectuals, through their divergent perspectives, have played a significant role in shaping and directing this discourse.
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