The Concept of Modernity in the Thought of Constitutionalist Intellectuals: The Interaction of Tradition and Innovation in Contemporary Iran

Abstract

Modernity in Iran during the Constitutional era did not emerge as a complete rupture from tradition; rather, it took shape as a complex, multilayered, and dynamic process of interaction, reinterpretation, and redefinition of religious, cultural, and social traditions. Confronted with crises of political, social, and economic backwardness, as well as the experience of centuries of authoritarian rule, Constitutional-era intellectuals sought to establish both theoretical and practical compatibility between indigenous intellectual and cultural heritage and the demands of the modern world. These efforts indicate that Iranian modernity, unlike its Western counterpart, was not merely imitative or unidimensional; instead, it constituted a hybrid, indigenous experience aligned with Iran’s historical, cultural, and religious context. This article, adopting an analytical–theoretical approach, examines various interpretations of modernity in the thought of prominent Constitutional intellectuals and demonstrates that these perspectives can be categorized into three main currents: the rational–critical current, which emphasized reason and social critique; the reformist–gradualist current, which regarded tradition as a foundation for reinterpretation and harmonization with modern values; and the institutional–legal current, which underscored the importance of modern structures, institutions, and legal frameworks in ensuring the sustainability of change. The findings of the study reveal that religious and cultural tradition, within these intellectual frameworks, was not perceived as an absolute obstacle but rather as an element open to redefinition and reinterpretation, capable of serving social, political, and cultural innovation. Accordingly, Iranian modernity was not only compatible with the preservation of the society’s cultural and ethical identity, but also enabled the formation of a critical and indigenous modern project.