Iranian Nationalism in the Nineteenth Century

Post Doctorate Researcher, The Institution of Humanities and Cultural Studies Iranian nationalism, dates back two century in history, is an inevitable concomitant of Iranian modernity. The emergence of Iranian nationalism in the nineteenth century is the inevitable consequence of the encounter of traditional Iran with modernity which was manifested in an elitist and at the same time an elementary way, in the form of modern thoughts and policies, among Iranian statesmen and intellectuals. Iranian nationalism, in reaction towards the expansionist policies of the invading foreign powers, also took an anti-colonial form. Also, in the face of the despotic states of the time, it took an anti-despotic aspect. Iranian nationalists of the Nineteenth Century focused their efforts on maintaining the independence of Iran; though the protection of Iranian identity and integrity was also among their goals. However, gradually, Iranian nationalism in response to the various changes of Iranian society developed a multi-dimensional nature. Facing the modern political changes, it developed a civil dimension and regarding the cultural qualities and properties of the country the religious and archaic dimensions of it also emerged. Till the end of the nineteenth century, the most important accomplishment of Iranian nationalists was preparing the grounds for the rule of law, which was in turn a prelude for the establishment of people’s right to rule. This ultimately crystallized in the Iranian constitutional revolution. From this period onwards the grounds for different forms of nation-building has been established in contemporary Iran, and so has the grounds for the gradual process of transition from a culturally-oriented nation to a politically-oriented nation