The Ulama's traditionalist opposition to parliamentarianism: 1907–1909

Abstract

The significance of the opposition of the great majority of the middleand highranking 'ulama' to constitutionalism has long been obscured in the historiography of Iran's constitutional revolution. This opposition began in 1907, gathered considerable momentum in the second half of that year, and prevailed until the very end of 1908. A number of factors account for the lack of attention to this important chapter in the history of the Revolution: the prominence of two mujtaheds, Tabataba'i and Behbehani, among the founders of the Majles, the valuable support given to the constitutionalist cause by three of the maraje'-e taqlid of Najaf, the pro-constitutionalism of many of the younger tollab and the conspicuous activism of a number of lesser clerics. Furthermore, during the first months of 1909, the invigoration of constitutionalist opposition to Mohammad 'Ali Shah abroad and in the provinces, and the incompetence and outrages of the autocracy and the anticipation of its collapse, induced most of the prominent 'ulama' to withdraw their active support or to join the constitutionalist camp prudently and out of expediency. Our purpose is to remedy the neglect of this important topic by tracing the development of the clerical opposition to parliamentary government, and by assessing its significance and implications. The pattern of politicized traditionalism which is brought to light by our analysis will be seen to bear a striking resemblance to that manifested in the revolution of 1979.