Analysis of the Context and Role of the Peasants’ Movement in the Constitutionalism of Guilan Based on the Resource Mobilization theory

After Tehran and Azerbaijan, Guilan played an essential role in the process of constitutionalism and the establishment of the constitutional system in Iran. Unlike other Iranian regions where the constitutional revolution was led by the middle class, in Guilan, the Peasants’ Movement had a strong presence in all stages of protests, gatherings, and movement towards the conquest of Tehran, and this action was aligned with the common interests of associations, committees and urban political parties. This study was therefore aimed at investigating the context and role of the Peasants’ Movement in the process of constitutionalism in Guilan. It tries to collect its required data about the formation and role of the Peasants’ Movement in the Guilan constitutional movement using the descriptive-analytical method and analyze the contexts and acting model of Gilani peasants based on Charles Tilly’s resource mobilization model. The findings indicate that the participation of Gilani peasants in constitutionalism does not stem from their level of knowledge about constitutional goals. Gilani peasants generally did not know the concept of constitution and its resulting ideal system. The history of peasant revolts in this region, the different geographical environment, their common interests on lands, the extreme oppression of the land owners, connection with the associations and the parties’ use of peasants are considered the causes for the mobilization process of this movement.