Kampen om det moderna i Iran: essäer Swedish 2025

The Struggle over Modernity in Iran: Essays, written by Rasoul Nejadmehr, is a collection of analytical essays that examines the challenges and contradictions surrounding the arrival of modernity in Iran. Adopting a historical–philosophical perspective, the author explores the encounter between modern thought and Iran’s intellectual and religious traditions—especially Shiʿi thought—and shows that modernity in Iran did not emerge in a linear fashion but through a complex, multilayered struggle.

The book also addresses Iran’s intellectual and cultural relations with Europe and their role in shaping reformist and modernist currents, introducing key figures among early Iranian intellectuals and thinkers. According to Bo Utas, Professor of Iranian Studies at Uppsala University, the work is “a perceptive and well-written overview” of the problem of modernity in Iran and offers a clear synthesis of Iranian philosophy. This book is an insightful and rewarding read for those interested in intellectual history, modern Iran, and cultural studies.