Analysis of the relations between subject and power institutions in Safavid era; focusing on the relations between the scientists and kings

Discourse is a set of commends and statements which gives meaning to the conditions for social agents. In discourse approaches, some of the concepts and subjects are excluded; because the discourse system highlights some concepts and subjects and ignores some others due to its notion. In the discourse system, some subjects are highlighted based on the favorites of the power system. Because those subjects give legitimacy to the political system. In Safavid era which is regarded as a landmark in the history of Shias, the subject of religious jurisprudence provides legitimacy for the power institution, because in this era, many of kings’ behaviors are shaped based on teachings of Shia. In this era, many scientists have come to Iran from other Islamic countries and promoted Shia teachings influenced by the favorable atmosphere created by Safavid kings. The notion of the relations between scientists and Safavid kings is important because many of Shia scientists had important roles in legitimizing and consolidating the situation of Safavid kings. However, some of these scientists refused to approach Safavid kings in the frame of that scientific structure which gave legitimacy to the kings and rejected many of their behaviors with the critical approach. This research intends to analyze the opposing and proposing approaches of the scholars in producing religious jurisprudence to the power structure of Safavid using Michel Foucault’s theory of subject and power.