POSTWAR POLITICS 323
THE INTELLECTUALS
IN CONTEXT
IDEOLOGY
Islamism
FOCUS
Islamic independence
BEFORE
1941 Soviet and British
forces invade Iran to secure
access to oil.
1962 Jalal Al-e-Ahmad
publishes his book
Occidentosis: A Plague from
the West—a critique of
Western civilization.
AFTER
1978 The Iranian Revolution
brings Ayatollah Ruhollah
Khomeini to power.
1980 Encouraged by Western
powers, Iraq invades Iran,
starting an eight-year war
and causing devastation on
both sides.
2005 Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
becomes president of Iran,
taking a religious hard line and
reversing previous reforms.
ERRONEOUSLY
FOUGHT ISLAM
ALI SHARIATI (1933–1977)
I
nfluenced by Islamic culture, and often blame religion for
puritanism, as well as Marxism a failure to acknowledge material
and postcolonial thinkers, concerns. The emancipation of Iran
ranian philosopher Ali Shariati is only possible by recognizing the
advocated Islamic thought and country’s Islamic roots and the
beliefs as pillars of Islamic society, creation of an egalitarian social
while promoting independence system that adheres to religious
from Western domination. norms. While the masses may need
Shariati sought to defend Islam more self-awareness, intellectuals
from misconceptions. For him, need more “faith.” Shariati’s views
these misunderstandings were were not a rejection of modernity—
largely the result of an unhealthy to him, Islam was a fundamental
divide between the educated tool for Iran to come to grips with
class and the masses in Iran. He the modern world. ■ Islamic faith as liberating
force not as an opium.
distinguishes between intellectuals
and enlightened people. The
latter, he argues, do not require
a university degree, but rather an
awareness of traditions, religion,
and the needs of the people.
anti-intellectualism
There is no prophecy
due to classism of which is as advanced,
Anti-intellectual religiouis knowledge
In their attempt to apply European powerful, and conscious as
models of development and the prophecy of Muhammad.
modernity to Iran, intellectuals Ali Shariati
failed to recognize that conditions
in Iran are different from those in
Europe. Intellectuals failed to
acknowledge the Islamic spirit that
dominates and sustains Iranian
See also: Muhammad 56–57 ■ Mahatma Gandhi 220–25 ■
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk 248–49 ■ Abul Ala Maududi 278–79