Analysis of Challenges and Opportunities in Cultural Relations Between the People and the Qajar State

Abstract

The Qajar era (1211–1344 AH / 1796–1925 CE) witnessed profound cultural and political transformations that significantly impacted the social and cultural structure of Iran. This article addresses a pivotal question regarding how cultural relations between the people and the state were shaped during this period, as well as the changes that occurred in educational, religious, artistic, and political systems under Qajar rule. The research employs a descriptive-analytical methodology, relying on library-based studies that include historical sources, travelers’ accounts of the era, and contemporary analyses of this period. The study aims to explore the nature of interactions between religious, governmental, and cultural institutions of the time and to analyze their impact on Iranian society. The article examines the educational system and its transformations, religion and sects and their role in legitimizing the Qajar state, arts and culture influenced by local artistic traditions and Western effects, as well as political changes and cultural reactions to colonial agreements and the Constitutional Revolution. The findings indicate that cultural relations during this period were the product of complex interactions between politics, religion, and art. The Qajar state sought to reinforce its legitimacy by supporting religious institutions, while cultural and artistic movements, alongside social responses to colonial agreements and the Constitutional Revolution, led to the emergence of new cultural and political ideas in Iran. Ultimately, these transformations resulted in wide-ranging social and political changes whose effects continue to resonate in the modern era.