Racketeers in Politics: Theoretical Reflections on Strong-man Performances in Late Qajar Iran

Abstract

During the Constitutional Revolution in Iran, the horse dealer Sattar Khan and the bricklayer Baqer Khan from Tabriz became the most famous heroes of their country. Insofar as they are heroes and representatives of a prominent interpretation of the revolution, they are figures of collective memories that stand for a certain perspective on the historical processes themselves, in which the ‘simple man’ is held responsible for political action. This chapter argues that the success story of the two revolutionary leaders forged a masculinity ethos that put strong emphasis on political action and ‘tough-guy’ performances at the same time. By drawing on the racket theory of Max Horkheimer and Theodor W. Adorno, this paper will offer three theoretical arguments that might shed light the luti masculinity ethos: (1) the constant references to the luti status of the two racketeers Sattar Khan and Baqer Khan helped to ‘Iranise’ the Constitutional Revolution and obfuscate its transnational entanglements; (2) their example helped to reshape gender discourses in general and notions of hegemonic masculinity in particular; and (3) this had distinct consequences for Iran’s history in the course of the century, for the ‘simple man’s’ obligation to contribute to national politics is valorised.