ZHARFAPAZHOOH

ZHARFAPAZHOOH

The role of Shia political culture in the transition process of Shia political discourses; from Safavid to the Islamic Revolution

Document Type : Original Article

Author
assistant proffessor, political thought in islam. the research institute of imam khomeini and islamic revolution
10.22034/te.2026.582465.1300
Abstract
Shiite political culture, as an identity-shaping factor, has succeeded in reconfiguring itself—through the transition within the historical transformations of the past few centuries—into three major discursive forms: 'cooperative and legitimizing,' 'silence,' and 'revolutionary.' This reconfiguration has occurred in a synergistic and interactive situation, adapting to the components of internal order as well as to systemic-level variables from the outside. Understanding the dynamics of this important component of Iranian culture and identity, as well as the reasons for its conceptual evolution and formation throughout history from the Safavid era to the Islamic Revolution, is among the objectives of this research. By applying the discourse analysis method of Laclau and Mouffe to each of the aforementioned historical-discursive periods, the author seeks to answer the following question, based on the theoretical framework of discursive resilience: why and how does Shiite political discourse incline toward cooperation in some conditions, toward silence in some cases, and toward revolution in others? The findings of this research can be expressed as follows: the evolution of Shiite political discourse can be explained through a three-dimensional model in which internal (identity-related), structural (institutional), and supra-structural (international) factors, through dialectical interaction, shape the dominant discourse of each period. This model not only explains the past but also provides a framework for monitoring the future developments of Shiite political culture, and explains how a change in any of the aforementioned dimensions can bring about a new discursive transition.
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Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 30 May 2026