An Analysis of Power Struggle between Local and International Powers in Zanjan during World War I (1294-1298 Hijri / 1914-1918 AD)

With the occupation of Iran during World War I, Iranian cities became rivalry arenas for the existing powers. Zanjan was one of those cities. The main question of the present study is: ‘How did the powers in Zanjan act during World War I and with what outcomes? 'This study sought to answer the above question through gathering documents as well as field study, using an analytic-descriptive method. During the war, Zanjan became the scene of conflict between three powers: alien invaders (Russia and England), local khan (Jahanshah Khan Amir Afshar) and the local governor (Asad al-Dawla Zolfaghari). The alien invaders and the local khan exploited material and human resources of Zanjan for supplying their own needs and interests. The third power, the Governor of Zanjan, adopting a realistic policy, used all the possible capacity to organize the affairs of the city and its surrounding areas. Because of its weakness, the central government's policy in Zanjan in communicating with the first power was passive and in relation to the second and third powers was invitation to peace and obtaining the consent of both parties. The power struggle in Zanjan caused disorder, population decline, emigration, unemployment, the closing down of local industries and disruption in trade.