The state and politics in Iran: the 1921-1941 phase

Abstract

The problem of the formation, development and typology of the Iranian State during the 1921-41 period has been the subject of various modes of interpretation. These phenomena have often been treated in terms of the efficacy of external factors, or by laying stress either on the repressive nature of the State or on its progressive characteristics. The present study maintains that those analytical frameworks are inade­quate for a comprehensive understanding of the above questions.
The present work offers a new approach to those problems. It
sets out an analytical framework according to which the historical process of state formation in Iran is explained in terms of historical materialism as it has been developed in classical texts with respect,
in particular, to theories of the State and politics. The State is conceived of as the relationship of forces between the social classes. Therefore, any study of the State involves an analysis of the social classes and the specific balance of forces established between them and the State. The Iranian State is, therefore, depicted as the product of the relations of the social forces. The development of the specif form of the State is related to the relations of forces between the social classes and the structure of the State while maintaining the dominant weight of class relations.
The mode of presentation of this study is structured according to the following framework :
- A critical review of a number of works on the subject in order to underline their shortcomings and to stress points of discord with the analytical framework adopted in this work.
- An analysis of the socio-economic development of this society prior
to the military coup d'etat of 1921 and its impact on the political terrain.
- A study of the political struggle during the 1921-25 period in order to single out the main factors leading to the formation of the Pahlavi State.
- An examination of the structural development of the Pahlavi State in the light of the formation and evolution of the civil-military bureau­cracy and the adoption of the centralist and secularist policies.
- A research into the question of the relationship between the State and the social classes by reffering to the politico-economic power of the dominant classes, the nature of the State and the functioning of the political ideology.
- An inquiry into the economic role of the State, the financial structure of the State, and its role as regards capitalist development in Iranian society.