ABSTRACT This paper examines the discourse surrounding law during Iran’s constitutional revolution (1906–1911), utilizing the unique lens of newspapers to understand popular conceptions of law and constitutionalism. Departing from research traditionally centred on elite treatises, this study explores the often-overlooked contributions of lesser-known and anonymous thinkers who disseminated their ideas through the widely accessible medium of newspapers. By analysing diverse perspectives on law’s origins, nature, and purpose—within the complex interplay of tradition, modernity, and Western influence—the paper reveals how the very concept of law was shaped not solely by prominent figures like Sheikh Fazlullah Nouri or Mirza Hossein Naini, but also by the urban middle class actively engaging with ideas presented in the press. Newspapers became vital platforms for public debate, transforming the understanding of law from an elite preoccupation to a subject of popular discussion. Furthermore, the study analyzes the positions of various intellectual and political figures, encompassing traditionalists, constitutionalists, and legal scholars, to illuminate the key debates and controversies that shaped the development of Iranian legal thought. This multifaceted approach reveals how the ongoing tension between tradition and modernity played out in the specifics of legal arguments and interpretations.
Read full abstract