State and Identity: Sociological Explanation of the Identity Policies in the First Pahlavi State
Volume 21, Issue 3, Spring 2021, Pages 59-81
https://doi.org/10.22034/jsi.2020.244320
T. Azadarmaki, A.M. Hazeri, A. Saei, F. Nosrati Nejad
Abstract This study explained why the national identity became important in the first Pahlavi state, why ancient elements of Iranian identity were highlighted, and why Islamic elements of their identity were marginalized. The results show that due to Iran's integration into the world system, the necessity of modern nation-building, and the importance of national identity in the modern state, made Iranians focus on their national identity. Since the powerful social forces challenged the state power at this period of time, the state tried to eliminate these social forces by enacting specific identity policies. Therefore, the state’s identity policies were mainly based on the state interests and not on the state ideology. In addition, these policies were formulated to weaken the rival social forces, especially the clergy and tribal leaders.
A study on the Formation of the Institutional Configuration, Based on the Balance of Power in Iranian Traditional Society (Reviewing Changes in Iran from Safavid to Qajar from Historical Institutionalism Point of View)
Volume 15, Issue 3, Summer 2013, Pages 29-64
T. Azadarmaki, A. Janadeleh
Abstract The dominant theoretical approach in historical sociology of Iran- regarding the image of Iranian society in which the absolute power and despotism prevented the development of associations, guilds, social classes or entirely any independent forces- inevitably has led to the "absence of society" as "social forces" that had an effective role in the development of Iranian society. Using the historical institutionalism approach, this article provides an alternative narrative of the traditional Iranian society that acknowledges the role of the multiple social forces, institutions and agencies. According to this alternative narrative, the institutional configuration of the Qajar era, was based on a complex network of interactions between the four main institutions of central government, the clergy, tribes and market, resulting in relatively stable institutional balance between the institutions. This institutional balance is not based on the domination of one institution to the others but it is based on the balance of power between those institutions .This institutional balance, rooted in the formation of Safavid government which itself was a combination of tribal forces and ideological power.