Characteristics of the Political Culture of Ruling Elites from Saadi's Perspective

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Associate Professor, University of Mazandaran, Mazandaran, Iran

2 PhD Candidate in Political Science, University of Mazandaran, Iran

Abstract

Persian literature represents a major part of the history of Iranian thought. Among its figures, Muslih al-Din Saadi Shirazi stands as a cornerstone—often hailed as the "second Ferdowsi." This article explores Saadi’s political thought through the lens of the characteristics and components of the political culture of ruling authorities. It focuses in particular on the cognitive, evaluative, and emotional dimensions of political culture as reflected in Saadi’s works. His outlook, attitudes, values, and sentiments—markers of his political culture and his position on the ruling elite of his time—can be traced throughout his writings. From this angle, the study seeks to understand the political culture of ruling elites as envisioned by Saadi. The findings suggest that, in Saadi’s view, this culture is manifested both realistically and ideally in various forms—ranging from feelings of political insecurity to rationalism, a commitment to justice, and a moderate approach. These characteristics appear to be especially prominent in Saadi’s portrayal of the political culture of ruling elites. The study draws primarily on Kulliyat-i Saadi, based on the edition by Mohammad Ali Foroughi. Methodologically, the research adopts an interpretive approach and uses qualitative content analysis, with data collected through library sources.

Keywords

References

Adams, Y., & Dyson, R. (2020). Fifty great political thinkers (P. Izadi, Trans.). Tehran: Sales.
Ahmadvand, S., & Shojaei, S. M. S. (2022). Governance and the legitimacy of obedience in Saadi’s Golestan. Mahnameh Elmi Jame’e Shenasi Siasi Iran, 5(4), pp. 1486-1499.
Akhavan Kazemi, B. (2004). The bond of literature and politics: Justice and uprising in Saadi’s political thought. Ettela’at-e Siasi Eghtesadi, (203-204), pp. 128-133.
Al-e Ghafour, S. M. T. (1996). The role of culture in the structure of contemporary Iran. Naqd va Nazar, 2(3-4), pp. 112-137.
Almond, G.A. & Verba, S. (1963). The civic culture political attitudes and democracy in five nations. Princeton, New Jersey. :Princeton University press.
Azghandi, A. R. (2000). Inefficiency of Iran’s political elites between two revolutions (2nd ed.). Tehran: Qoqnoos.
Azghandi, A. R. (2012). Saadi’s political thoughts. Tehran: Qoqnoos.
Azghandi, A. R., & Delavar, A. (2010). The role of the political culture of ruling elites in the fall of Mohammad Reza Shah (Case study of Prime Minister Hoveyda from February 1965 to August 1977). Rahyaft-haye Siasi va Beynolmelali, (23), pp. 51-75.
Bashiriyeh, H. (2002). Political sociology (The role of social forces in political life). Tehran: Ney.
Bashiriyeh, H. (2005). Teaching political knowledge: Foundations of theoretical and foundational political science. Tehran: Negah-e Moaser.
Bashiriyeh, H. (2008). Obstacles to political development in Iran. Tehran: Gam-e No.
Coser, L. (1998). Masters of sociological thought: Ideas in historical and social context (M. Salasi, Trans.). Tehran: Elmi.
Dashti, A. (1977). The domain of Saadi (5th ed.). Tehran: Amirkabir.
Delavar, A. (2008). The political culture of elites in the Second Pahlavi era. Goftegu, (52), pp. 111-140.
Ebrahimi Dinani, G. H. (2013). Theoretical wisdom and practical wisdom in the works of Saadi. Saadi Shenasi, 16, pp. 24-32.
Evans, M. (2004). Elitism (M. Shahabi, Trans.). Farhang-e Andisheh, 3(10), pp. 11-33.
Fuller, G. (2008). The center of the universe (A. Mokhbar, Trans.). Tehran: Markaz.
Ghavam, A. (2015). Politics: Foundations of political science. Tehran: SAMT.
Ghezelsafli, M. T. (2022). The anxiety of existence; An introduction to the political thought of anxiety. Tehran: Khamoosh.
Haghjoo, S. (2002). Saadi’s political wisdom (An ethical intermediary between the superior and the subordinate and its literature). Pajouheshnameh Oloum Ensani va Ejtemaei, 2(6-7), pp. 97-117.
Harari, Y. N. (2018). Sapiens: A brief history of humankind (N. Gargin, Trans.). Tehran: Farhang Nashr No.
Hatschek, E., & Wickens, G. M. (2004). Golestan and Bustan: Preface. Tehran: Hermes & Markaz-e Goftoguye Tamaddon-ha.
Held, D. (2005). Models of democracy (A. Mokhbar, Trans.). Tehran: Rowshangaran va Motale’at-e Zanan.
Heywood, A. (2021). Politics (A. Alem, Trans.). Tehran: Ney.
Juvayni, A. (2008). The history of the world conqueror (M. Qazvini, Ed.). Tehran: Hermes.
Khorshidi, M., & Haghighat, S. S. (2018). Saadi and the constructive intellectual traditions of political custom. Pajouheshnameh Oloum Siasi, (21), pp. 37-72.
Manouchehri, A. (2018). The paradigm of advice. Tehran: Pazhouheshkadeh Tarikh Eslam.
Massé, H. (1990). Research on Saadi (G. H. Yousefi, Trans.). Tehran: Toos.
Milani, A. (2008). Modernity and anti-modernity in Iran (7th ed.). Tehran: Akhtaran.
Movahed, Z. (2020). Saadi (7th ed.). Tehran: Niloufar.
Omidbakhsh, A. R., & Jalali, M. A. (2021). An investigation of the relationship between master and subject in Saadi’s political views from the perspective of new historicism. Adab Parsi, 12(2), pp. 93-124.
Rafipour, F. (1999). Anatomy of society: An introduction to applied sociology. Tehran: Sherkat Sahami Enteshar.
Rocher, G. (2004). Social change (15th ed., M. Vosoughi, Trans.). Tehran: Ney.
Saadi, M. (2023). Kulliyat-e Saadi (Based on the correction and publication of M. A. Foroughi; B. Khorramshahi, Ed., Intro., Annotations, & Indexes, 9th ed.). Tehran: Doostan.
Sariolghalam, M. (2007). The political culture of Iran. Tehran: Pazhouheshkadeh Motale’at Farhangi va Ejtemaei.
Servat, M. (2009). Politics of cities from Saadi’s perspective. Tarikh Adabiyat, 60(3), pp. 5-19.
Skinner, Q. (2014). Visions of politics (F. Majidi, Trans.). Tehran: Farhang-e Javid.
Tabatabaei, S. J. (2016). Saadi’s unconventional advice literature. Saadi Shenasi, (1), pp. 117-153.
Tabatabaei, S. J. (2021). History of political thought in Iran: Considerations on theoretical foundations. Tehran: Minouye Kherad.
Zahiri Nav, B., & Pakmehr, A. (2008). Saadi’s political and governmental thoughts in Bustan and Golestan. Pajouheshnameh Oloum Ensani, (58), pp. 99-122.
Zarrinkoub, A. (2000). Saadi’s sweet Discourse: About the life and thought of Saadi. Tehran: Sokhan Publications.
Zonis, M. (2008). The political elite of Iran (P. Salehi, S. Aminzadeh, & Z. Labadi, Trans.). Tehran: Chapakhsh.

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics