The contradictions of " "Oriental despotism" " in Iran during the Qajar period. The social construction of "Kariz" and "Boneh"

Oriental despotism along with feudalism, Asian mode of production and patrimonialism are among the theories that try to generalize their general statements to the history of Iran. The origins of these theories are not in Iran and do not address the specific social and cultural issues of Iranian society. Although there are similarities between Oriental despotism and periods of Iranian history, But also there are some issues that are hidden from its view. Especially in the arid and marginal parts of the desert can be found counterexamples. Qanat and Boneh had created different life patterns that the result was a decentralization and dispersion, which is the main idea of Wittfogel in the book of Oriental despotism. In this paper, we will try with use of comparative review of Oriental despotism book from Wittfogel and by using historical sources and anthropological research, to address the agriculture, irrigation practices and traditional construction of coopration in the form of Boneh and its impact on the lives and life of Iranian humans.