The term Persianism evokes a complex tapestry of cultural pride, historical continuity, and national identity that has been central to Iran's development, particularly in the 20th century. It represents more than just an ethnic or linguistic designation; it is a powerful ideological and cultural framework through which Iranians have understood their place in history and the modern world. This concept is not static but a dynamic force, constantly reinterpreted and reasserted in response to political change, social upheaval, and global interaction. To truly grasp the soul of modern Iran, one must engage with the idea of Persianism and its manifestations in the nation's pivotal decades.
Understanding this cultural force requires looking at the individuals who shaped its modern expression. A monumental work that provides this essential perspective is the two-volume set, Eminent Persians: The Men and Women Who Made Modern Iran, 1941-1979. This scholarly compilation serves as a critical biographical archive, documenting the architects of contemporary Iran during the transformative Pahlavi era. Through its pages, the abstract notion of Persianism is given human form, revealing how specific politicians, artists, intellectuals, and industrialists operationalized this cultural identity to build a modern state. The work is an indispensable resource for anyone studying modern Iran history and the forces that defined it.
The period covered by Eminent Persians—from 1941 to 1979—was arguably the most intense period of state-led modernization in Iranian history. It was an era where the tension between rapid, Western-inspired development and the deep-rooted currents of Persianism created a unique societal dynamic. The state, under Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, actively promoted a form of nationalist Persianism that glorified the pre-Islamic empires of Cyrus and Darius, while simultaneously pushing for secularization and industrial growth. This official narrative sought to forge a unified national identity that could underpin the project of modernization, making the study of this Pahlavi era crucial to understanding contemporary Iranian consciousness.
The Pillars of Modern Persianism: Pre-Islamic Glory and Linguistic Pride
At the core of 20th-century Persianism were two foundational pillars: the celebration of Iran's ancient, pre-Islamic civilization and the veneration of the Persian language (Farsi). The Pahlavi monarchy heavily invested in archaeological projects, museums, and national ceremonies that highlighted Achaemenid and Sassanian achievements. This was not merely antiquarianism; it was a deliberate political strategy to provide Iran with a glorious, sovereign past independent of the Islamic narrative, thereby strengthening national cohesion and royal legitimacy. This revived historical consciousness directly influenced the educated elite profiled in collections of Iranian biographies.
Concurrently, the Persian language was purified and standardized, with institutions like the Academy of Persian Language and Literature (Farhangestan) working to replace foreign loanwords with Persian equivalents. This linguistic nationalism was a key component of Persianism, ensuring that the vehicle of high culture and administration remained distinctly Iranian. The poets, writers, and scholars of the era, many of whom are featured in historical accounts, were central figures in this cultural project, using the language to articulate both modern and traditional values, thus keeping Persianism a living, evolving ideology.
Eminent Persians as a Mirror to Cultural Identity
The biographical approach of Eminent Persians is particularly effective for deconstructing Persianism. By examining the lives of individuals like Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh, who championed Iranian sovereignty against foreign influence, or poet Forough Farrokhzad, who broke literary and social taboos, we see how Persianism could fuel both nationalist resistance and radical cultural innovation. The biographies reveal that Persianism was not a monolithic state doctrine but a repertoire of symbols and ideas that could be deployed for various, sometimes conflicting, political and social ends. For a deep dive into these formative lives, the resource Eminent Persians is unparalleled.
The volumes include figures from diverse sectors—politics, military, economics, arts, and religion—illustrating how Persianism permeated all aspects of nation-building. An industrialist building Iran's first modern factories and a cleric preserving Shiite theological traditions were both, in their own ways, engaged with questions of Iranian identity and modernity. This breadth shows that Persianism provided a common, if contested, discursive space for the Iranian elite. Exploring these interconnected lives through 20th century Iran scholarship helps map the intellectual and social networks that shaped the country's destiny.
Persianism in Tension: Modernity, Religion, and the 1979 Revolution
The ultimate test for the state-sponsored Persianism of the Pahlavi era came with the Islamic Revolution of 1979. The revolution revealed a profound societal rift. For many, the monarchy's version of Persianism was seen as overly secular, elitist, and disconnected from the populist and religious (Shiite) elements of Iranian identity. The revolutionary ideology, led by Ayatollah Khomeini, successfully mobilized an alternative identity framework that fused Shiite Islam with anti-imperialist nationalism. This did not erase Persianism, but it fundamentally challenged its Pahlavi-era formulation and forced its re-articulation in a new Islamic republican context.
Post-revolution, the narrative of Persianism has persisted but in a transformed state. The Islamic Republic has often downplayed pre-Islamic symbolism in favor of Islamic and revolutionary motifs, yet the Persian language, literature, and deep-seated cultural pride remain potent forces. The tension between Iran's Persianism and its Islamic identity continues to be a defining feature of its politics and culture. Understanding this tension is essential for interpreting not only Iran's past but its present and future role in Middle East history.
The Enduring Legacy and Study of Persianism
Today, Persianism remains a vital lens for analyzing Iran. It helps explain the country's fierce independence in foreign policy, its rich artistic and literary output, and its complex internal debates about tradition and progress. For scholars, students, and anyone interested in Iran, engaging with primary sources that document this ideology is key. Biographical histories, like the referenced work on eminent figures, provide the granular, human-scale data needed to move beyond theoretical abstractions about identity. They show how ideas like Persianism are lived, advocated, and contested by real people in real time.
In conclusion, Persianism is the golden thread running through the fabric of modern Iranian history. It is the cultural engine that powered both the ambitious modernization projects of the 20th century and the resilient sense of self that has survived revolution and international isolation. To study the biographies of the men and women from the 1941-1979 period is to study the practical application of this powerful idea. Their successes, failures, and conflicts offer timeless lessons on the interplay between cultural identity and political change, making the exploration of Persianism as relevant today as ever.
