Meaning Transformation of Despotism Signifier and Rising of the Iranian Despotism Discourse

The purpose of this study is to examine the meaning transformation of despotism signifier from Safavid Era to the rising of Iranian despotism discourse in Qajar era. The method is archaeology and the study is focused on the relations of the meaning transformation with discourse practices. Pre-modern texts were investigated for the significance of Despotism. The results suggested that these significance refer to ethical meanings. Then it can be claimed that despotism in pre-modern texts do not have politico-cultural connotations. Conceptual significance Turn of despotism to a discourse is the byproduct of historical events such as war, cholera and famine. This turn creates a new order of things, on one hand, and problematized despotism as a barrier for this new order, on other hand. In this context despotism became the central signifier of a discourse which tries to theorize the Iranian society. This concept in Iranian study is behaved like a fetish which should be returned to its historical springs.