The Cultural and Economic Evolutions Affecting the Urban Changes in BabolSar in the Reza Shah Pahlavi Era

Before the urban changes in BabolSar in the Reza Shah Pahlavi era, the identity of this city was tied to its port, custom and fishery, and it was known as MashadSar Port. In Reza Shah Pahlavi era, special cultural and economic evolution happened in international, national and local stages and made BabolSar to experience fundamental urban changes. This article tries to elicit and interpret these evolutions and analyze many formal and informal historical narratives. It uses sources such as itinerary, documents, newspapers of 1928-1941, local, national, and international histories, and applies technics such as deep interview, group discussion, and oral history. It uses qualitative method and applies grounded theory to analyze information. Concepts are categorized in following seven categories: The necessity for going out of port economy (as causes), Preparation of local forces (as intervening conditions), dominant nature (as context conditions), managing forces and violence (as strategies), transforming identity, and changing role of foreigners (as consequences). The core category is “creative destruction” which covers all of the mentioned categories.