The aim of this article is to draw theoretical lessons from the contemporary transformation of Shi'ism by examining the bearing of history, structure and cultural tradition on the causes and consequences of the Islamic Revolution in Iran. It is argued that the Islamic Revolution can be viewed as the traditionalization of a modernizing nation-state, and at the same time the modernization of the Shi'ite tradition. This apparently paradoxical characterization strongly suggests that a Weberian paradigm for culturally specific patterns of social change is more helpful for its comprehension than any alternative model.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Akhavi, S. (1980). Religion and Politics in Contemporary Iran. Albany: State University of New York Press .
2.
Arjomand, S.A. (1984). The Shadow of God and the Hidden Imam. Religion, Political Order and Societal Change in Shi'ite Iran from the Beginning to 1890. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
3.
Arjomand, S.A. (1986). "Iran's Islamic Revolution in Comparative Perspective ." World Politics38: 3.
4.
Arjomand, S.A. (1988a). The Turban for the Crown: The Islamic Revolution in Iran. New York: Oxford University Press.
5.
Arjomand, S.A. (1988b). "Ideological Revolution in Shi'ism." In Authority and Political Culture in Shi'ism. Albany: State University of New York Press.
6.
Baechler, J. (1975). Revolution. New York: Harper and Row.
7.
Bakhash, S. (1987). "Islam and Social Justice in Iran." In Shi'ism, Resistance and Revolution ( M. Kramer , ed.). Boulder, CO: Westview Press.
8.
Eisenstadt, S.N. (1978). Revolutions and Transformation of Societies. New York: Wiley.
9.
Eisenstadt, S.N. (1981). "Cultural Traditions and Political Dynamics: The Origins and Modes of Ideological Politics." British Journal of Sociology32: 2.
10.
Eisenstadt, S.N. (1986). "Introduction: The Axial Age Breakthroughs: Their Characteristics and Origins." In The Origins and Diversity of Axial Age Civilizations. Albany: State University of New York Press.
11.
Goldstone, J.A. (1982). "The Comparative and Historical Study of Revolutions ." Annual Review of Sociology Vol. 8.
12.
Hodgson, M.G.S. (1974). The Venture of Islam, 3 vols. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Keyhan (newspaper).
13.
Lidz, V. (1982). "Religion and Cybernetic Concepts in the Theory of Action." Sociological Analysis43: 4.
14.
Madelung, W. (1986). "Mahdi." The Encyclopedia of Islam, 2nd ed. Leiden: E. J. Brill.
15.
March, J.G. and J.P. Olsen (1985). "The New Institutionalism: Organizational Factors in Political Life." American Political Science Review79: 3.
Motahhari, M. (1975/1354). Qiyam va Enqelab-e Mahdi. Teheran: Mash'al-e Azadi.
18.
Oberschall, A. (1973). Social Conflict and Social Movement. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall.
19.
Shari'ati, A. (1971/1350). Entezar, Madhhab-e E'teraz. Teheran: Abu Dharr.
20.
Sorush (periodical).
21.
Tilly, C. (1978). From Mobilization to Revolution. Reading, MA: Addison Wesley.
22.
Tiryakian, E.A. (1985). "On the Significance of De-Differentiation." In Macrosociological Theory (S. N. Eisenstadt and H. J. Helle, eds.). Sage Studies in International Sociology, vol. 33.
23.
Weber, M. (1978). Economy and Society (G. Roth and C. Wittich, eds.)Berkeley: University of California Press.
