The Evolution of the Monarchical Institution in Iran Through the Lens of Carl Schmitt's Theory of Sovereignty
Keywords:
Monarchy, State of Exception, Carl Schmitt, Sovereignty, Decision-Making, Political Order, Islamic RevolutionAbstract
This article aims to analyze the historical transformation of the monarchical institution in Iran through the lens of Carl Schmitt’s theory of sovereignty and the state of exception. Adopting an analytical-conceptual approach, the study explores the relationship between Schmitt’s core concepts—including the sovereign, exception, order, and decision-making—and the evolution of monarchy in Iran from ancient times to its collapse in 1979. The article first elaborates Schmitt’s idea that order precedes law and that sovereignty is defined by the capacity to decide in moments of crisis. These theoretical insights are then applied to key phases of Iranian history, including the Achaemenid, Safavid, Qajar, and especially the Pahlavi eras. The findings reveal that the Iranian monarchy, particularly under the Pahlavi dynasty, embodied Schmitt’s notion of sovereign authority and repeatedly confronted exceptional situations that required decisive action beyond legal norms. However, on the eve of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the monarchy failed to fulfill this sovereign function, lacking the capacity to reestablish political order despite retaining the instruments of power. The paper argues that the fall of the monarchy can be interpreted as a failure of sovereign decision-making. In conclusion, the article critically assesses both the strengths and limitations of Schmitt’s theory in explaining the Iranian case and offers directions for future comparative research on political theory and the history of power in Iran.
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References
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