A Comparative Analysis of Reformism in Mirza Malkam Khan and Ali Shariati's Thought

This research is an examination of the intellectual history during the Mashruteh (Constitutional Revolution) and the Islamic Revolution. It compares reforms contemplated by Mirza Malkom Khan and Ali Shariati. The research question is: What are the differences between reformist thoughts of them concerning their temporal situations? In this regard، we have used the findings of Thomas Springer (crisis discovery، identifying the reasons and solutions suggested by the two thinkers) to analyze their thoughts. Malkom’s thoughts were based on the confrontation with backwardness and promotion of development. He praised modernization and emphasized on religion to justify his thoughts. His main concern was to overcome backwardness and proposed the Western Progress Model as a solution. Contrary to him، Shariati concentrated on the revival of religious identity and presenting a model to encounter superficial impressions of the West، modernity and modernization. His answer to the problem was revival of the ideas of justice and freedom (return to self). For emphasizing its identity foundations and achieving progress، contemporary Iran needs thoughtful approaches and proper development models in order to meet both development and identity without endangering or preferring one over the other because the country’s contemporary history has indicated that any bias towards one of these foundations would lead to imbalance in society and its instability in long term.