Iranian Political Science Association Research Letter of Political Science 1735790X 8 3 2013 09 23 Political Modernisation and the Constitutionalist Merchants Political Modernisation and the Constitutionalist Merchants 7 36 206 FA Morteza Manshadi Journal Article 2013 10 13 The victory of constitutionalism was the first stage of forming modern government in Iran. It is of paramount importance to know how the activists understood of the concept and aims of constitutionalism. Merchants were one of the most effective social classes in the process of victory of constitutionalism in Iran. The main question in this survey is, what are the specifications of the political regime that emerged from political modernisation in Iran? The author response is, in merchants’ perspective, the constitutional government and the governance based on law were the same. In this respect, restricting despotism with law, responsibility of the king and his government can solve the Iran’s problems. The approach of this article is interpretative and historical sociology. The victory of constitutionalism was the first stage of forming modern government in Iran. It is of paramount importance to know how the activists understood of the concept and aims of constitutionalism. Merchants were one of the most effective social classes in the process of victory of constitutionalism in Iran. The main question in this survey is, what are the specifications of the political regime that emerged from political modernisation in Iran? The author response is, in merchants’ perspective, the constitutional government and the governance based on law were the same. In this respect, restricting despotism with law, responsibility of the king and his government can solve the Iran’s problems. The approach of this article is interpretative and historical sociology. http://www.ipsajournal.ir/article_206_7eabe3a1649ffa2b3ff8c02ebfd5659f.pdf

Iranian Political Science Association Research Letter of Political Science 1735790X 8 3 2013 09 23 An Structural- Institutional Approach to Deadlock of Constitutional Parliaments in Iran An Structural- Institutional Approach to Deadlock of Constitutional Parliaments in Iran 37 68 207 FA Mohammad Fazeli Masume Eshtiyaghi Journal Article 2013 10 13 This article deals with conditions of structural- institutional conditions of constitutional parliaments in Iran. The institutional evolution of constitutional parliaments and the interaction of structure of Iranian society and parliament have been investigated in this article. The main hypothesis is the situation of institutions in the time of Qajars made the parliament ineffective. The historical – causal method based on causal narrative has been applied to review Qajar history. The outcome of influencing world-system, capitalist economy, despotic state, and the weakness of Qajar dynasty resulted in unbalanced class structure. This factor, added to asymmetric power relations, and the positive feedback of these processes created ineffective parliaments that could not realize the goals of constitutional. This article deals with conditions of structural- institutional conditions of constitutional parliaments in Iran. The institutional evolution of constitutional parliaments and the interaction of structure of Iranian society and parliament have been investigated in this article. The main hypothesis is the situation of institutions in the time of Qajars made the parliament ineffective. The historical – causal method based on causal narrative has been applied to review Qajar history. The outcome of influencing world-system, capitalist economy, despotic state, and the weakness of Qajar dynasty resulted in unbalanced class structure. This factor, added to asymmetric power relations, and the positive feedback of these processes created ineffective parliaments that could not realize the goals of constitutional.

http://www.ipsajournal.ir/article_207_69adc1e107f7f7d035d7baf04342e1ca.pdf

Iranian Political Science Association Research Letter of Political Science 1735790X 8 3 2013 09 23 Discourse Analysis of Amirkabir Reforms in Selected Texts of Vaghayeh Etefaghyeh Newspaper Discourse Analysis of Amirkabir Reforms in Selected Texts of Vaghayeh Etefaghyeh Newspaper 69 98 208 FA Seyyed Hossein Athari Journal Article 2013 10 13 When Amirkabir was considered the founder of the idea of progress in Iran. Before the reforms of Amir Kabir, the country was suffering from the lack of political, economic and military independence. Amir Kabir tried to increase Qajar sovereignty through production and promotion of security. Thus, the main objective from protection of domestic production that based on new industry was independence as central symbol of reform. This paper, through discourse analysis of selected texts from the forty number of the Vaghayeh Etefaghyeh newspaper that published during his premiership, examines the impact of Amir Kabir reform on economic, social and political issues during his rule. When Amirkabir was considered the founder of the idea of progress in Iran. Before the reforms of Amir Kabir, the country was suffering from the lack of political, economic and military independence. Amir Kabir tried to increase Qajar sovereignty through production and promotion of security. Thus, the main objective from protection of domestic production that based on new industry was independence as central symbol of reform. This paper, through discourse analysis of selected texts from the forty number of the Vaghayeh Etefaghyeh newspaper that published during his premiership, examines the impact of Amir Kabir reform on economic, social and political issues during his rule.

http://www.ipsajournal.ir/article_208_091d584fced301b442654dd8c23b3fc9.pdf

Iranian Political Science Association Research Letter of Political Science 1735790X 8 3 2013 09 23 Mirza Agha Khan Kermani and the Critique of Tradition Mirza Agha Khan Kermani and the Critique of Tradition 99 132 209 FA Mohammad Taghi Ghezelsofla Negein Noorian Dehkordi Journal Article 2013 10 13 This article is an attempt to reread and interpret some of the works by Mirza Agha Khan Kermani, one of the prominent figures of the first generation of Iranian intellectuals. The main question is how he perceives Iranian tradition and what approach he takes to the pluralist and multidimensional tradition in Iran. In reply to this question, his way of dealing with tradition will be discussed and analyzed through his writings. With reference to some of his works, it will be shown that despite the common idea about him as an intellectual who rejects tradition, he is attached to some aspects of it. He takes a selective approach to tradition, and in the opposite direction to traditionalist intellectuals, intends to challenge and question some dimensions of Iranian tradition which is in contrast with modernization of Iran. However, in many cases, both his praise and criticism of tradition are rather superficial, rhetorical, and ideological, and his thought is unable to penetrate deep into Iranian tradition. The study of the strengths and weaknesses of his opinion in terms of tradition can be constructive, since Agha Khan Kermani is a modernist intellectual whose thought, whose life and even death reflect the crisis of encounter with the legacy of the past in Iran. This article is an attempt to reread and interpret some of the works by Mirza Agha Khan Kermani, one of the prominent figures of the first generation of Iranian intellectuals. The main question is how he perceives Iranian tradition and what approach he takes to the pluralist and multidimensional tradition in Iran. In reply to this question, his way of dealing with tradition will be discussed and analyzed through his writings. With reference to some of his works, it will be shown that despite the common idea about him as an intellectual who rejects tradition, he is attached to some aspects of it. He takes a selective approach to tradition, and in the opposite direction to traditionalist intellectuals, intends to challenge and question some dimensions of Iranian tradition which is in contrast with modernization of Iran. However, in many cases, both his praise and criticism of tradition are rather superficial, rhetorical, and ideological, and his thought is unable to penetrate deep into Iranian tradition. The study of the strengths and weaknesses of his opinion in terms of tradition can be constructive, since Agha Khan Kermani is a modernist intellectual whose thought, whose life and even death reflect the crisis of encounter with the legacy of the past in Iran.

http://www.ipsajournal.ir/article_209_b1d10e7bafa4421218a51b1e1f1b0ba2.pdf

Iranian Political Science Association Research Letter of Political Science 1735790X 8 3 2013 09 23 The Modes of Recruitments of Nehzat Azadi Iran from 1962 to 1979 The Modes of Recruitments of Nehzat Azadi Iran from 1962 to 1979 133 160 210 FA Abbas Keshavarz Shokri 0000-0002-7686-6578 Mohammad Rahmati Journal Article 2013 10 13 The main question of this article is the modes of recruitment of the Nehzat Azadi Iran. The method of this research is historical and of the kind of qualitative research and interview is the main data collection tool. Analysis method (including the analysis of the books, articles, documents and etc.) as a complimentary method, is used also. Findings of the research disclose that leaders had belonged to new middle class but most of the members came from middle and lower middle class. Social status of the group due to leadrers’ charisma has been the main factor of recruitment. Anjoman-e Eslami & Hedaayat Mosque was the main channel for people to join Nehzat Azadi. The main question of this article is the modes of recruitment of the Nehzat Azadi Iran. The method of this research is historical and of the kind of qualitative research and interview is the main data collection tool. Analysis method (including the analysis of the books, articles, documents and etc.) as a complimentary method, is used also. Findings of the research disclose that leaders had belonged to new middle class but most of the members came from middle and lower middle class. Social status of the group due to leadrers’ charisma has been the main factor of recruitment. Anjoman-e Eslami & Hedaayat Mosque was the main channel for people to join Nehzat Azadi.

http://www.ipsajournal.ir/article_210_6f3ef77ac0e3619e98159e9b6febf557.pdf

Iranian Political Science Association Research Letter of Political Science 1735790X 8 3 2013 09 23 Divine Glory and Russia and Britain Support of Iranian Kings Divine Glory and Russia and Britain Support of Iranian Kings 161 183 211 FA Jaseb Nikfar Journal Article 2013 10 13 Iranian long-lasting history from the beginning to Islamic revolution victory in 1979 formed around power and bout of Iranian kings. One of the most notable reasons of the continuity of this kind of government -monarchic-state- was a belief that the source of kings' power is "divine glory". Sovereignty of this political state-monarchic order was day to day becoming more powerful before the emerging of Islam in Iran. Although the situation faced some evolutions by the establishment of Baniommaye and Baniabbas caliphates, this assumption was accepted by ruling states of Iran was –with some differences- more or less accepted by political society of Iran till the emergence of Safavid state. During Safavid period by recognizing Shiism as the formal religion in Iran, this thought about power found a stronger and clearer structure. After Safavid downfall and following the elimination of royal divine right in Iran this assumption was put in question. The main question of present research is how and why this royal divine right and divine glory in Iran was deprived from Iranian kings since Second Tahmasb period. Is there any relationship between the presence of foreign forces-Russian and Ottoman states- and elimination of royal divine right in Iran? Since constitutionalism period people denied both divine right and support of foreigners and they found that the main origin of national power is the people themselves. Iranian long-lasting history from the beginning to Islamic revolution victory in 1979 formed around power and bout of Iranian kings. One of the most notable reasons of the continuity of this kind of government -monarchic-state- was a belief that the source of kings' power is "divine glory". Sovereignty of this political state-monarchic order was day to day becoming more powerful before the emerging of Islam in Iran. Although the situation faced some evolutions by the establishment of Baniommaye and Baniabbas caliphates, this assumption was accepted by ruling states of Iran was –with some differences- more or less accepted by political society of Iran till the emergence of Safavid state. During Safavid period by recognizing Shiism as the formal religion in Iran, this thought about power found a stronger and clearer structure. After Safavid downfall and following the elimination of royal divine right in Iran this assumption was put in question. The main question of present research is how and why this royal divine right and divine glory in Iran was deprived from Iranian kings since Second Tahmasb period. Is there any relationship between the presence of foreign forces-Russian and Ottoman states- and elimination of royal divine right in Iran? Since constitutionalism period people denied both divine right and support of foreigners and they found that the main origin of national power is the people themselves.

http://www.ipsajournal.ir/article_211_eb163727917cbba1eea208541a643e74.pdf

Iranian Political Science Association Research Letter of Political Science 1735790X 8 3 2013 09 23 The Modes of Recruitments of Nehzat Azadi Iran from 1962 to 1979 The Modes of Recruitments of Nehzat Azadi Iran from 1962 to 1979 185 208 212 FA Shervin Moghimi Zanjani Journal Article 2013 10 13 In this paper we will attempt to compare the characteristics of Imam in the Ismaili theosophy, as described by Nasir Khusraw, with properties and traits of Ideal King in ancient Persian wisdom. We emphasizes on essential qualities in the Iranian political thought that throughout a long historical period, from establishment of contents of ancient Persian thinking to today, has had an impact on our political culture. If we can consider correctly the characteristics of Ismaili’s Imam (or Fatimid Caliph), as portrayed by Nasir Khusraw, we would diagnose some fundamental affinities between them and descriptions of the Ideal King in the ancient Iranian political thought. By surveying of essential concerns of Nasir Khusraw in both of historical-social and intellectual-dogmatic sides through detailed study of his works, we can mark out the continuity of a distinct approach towards nature of political relations and especially of the sovereign’s characteristics without which the history of political thought in Iran is not understandable. In this paper we will attempt to compare the characteristics of Imam in the Ismaili theosophy, as described by Nasir Khusraw, with properties and traits of Ideal King in ancient Persian wisdom. We emphasizes on essential qualities in the Iranian political thought that throughout a long historical period, from establishment of contents of ancient Persian thinking to today, has had an impact on our political culture. If we can consider correctly the characteristics of Ismaili’s Imam (or Fatimid Caliph), as portrayed by Nasir Khusraw, we would diagnose some fundamental affinities between them and descriptions of the Ideal King in the ancient Iranian political thought. By surveying of essential concerns of Nasir Khusraw in both of historical-social and intellectual-dogmatic sides through detailed study of his works, we can mark out the continuity of a distinct approach towards nature of political relations and especially of the sovereign’s characteristics without which the history of political thought in Iran is not understandable.

http://www.ipsajournal.ir/article_212_1534b76d325a8f591b52d302e7181331.pdf