A Comparative Study of the Fundamental Concepts of Iranshahr Political Thought in the Seljuk and Safavid Periods
Keywords:
Iranshahri Political Thought, Seljuks, Safavids, Political Legitimacy, Ideal KingAbstract
The present study aims to comparatively examine the fundamental concepts of Iranshahr political thought, including divine glory (farr-e izadi), the ideal king, justice, bureaucracy, and the relationship between religion and the state during the two historical periods of the Seljuks and the Safavids. This research was conducted using a descriptive-analytical method with a comparative approach based on historical texts and documents. The findings indicate that Iranshahr political thought continued in both periods as a flexible intellectual framework; however, it was reproduced in accordance with the historical and religious context of each era. During the Seljuk period, this political thought was preserved through the integration of the Iranian bureaucratic tradition with the military power of the Turks, relying on the dual legitimacy of the Abbasid Caliph and the political authority of the Sultan within a relatively decentralized structure, while justice was defined as the primary duty of the ruler. In contrast, during the Safavid period, with the official establishment of Twelver Shi‘ism, a deeper connection emerged between political legitimacy and religion, and the king assumed the role of protector of religion, representative of the Hidden Imam, and executor of the Sharia within a fully centralized structure. The results demonstrate that although the king in both eras was regarded as the principal محور and guarantor of order, justice, and social stability, the fundamental difference lay in the manner of organizing political power and the source of legitimacy, which in the Seljuk period was based on a balance of power and Abbasid approval, whereas in the Safavid period it rested upon centralization and a Shi‘ite interpretation of Iranian political concepts.
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