Intertextual Notions in the Genre of Disclosing Discourse: The Case of the Revolutionary Iran During 1978–79

Every significant social revolution, in addition to the diverse array of physical and objective events and actions (e.g., marches, armed conflicts, exile, and slogans), also encompasses intellectual dimensions. Not an exception in this regard, the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran originated from the longstanding philosophical, historical, and civilizational tradition of Islamic Iran, particularly the Shia political thought. This philosophical tradition served as the foundation for the production of various political texts and speeches, each with distinct functions but sharing the common goal of overthrowing the oppressive regime. As a notable form of political discourse and speech during the Revolution, the disclosing discourse would critically examine the status quo in the most explicit manner possible, challenging the legitimacy of the ruling power. The present study aimed to explore the relations and characteristics of the texts belonging to different periods and harboring the disclosing discourse. It also intended to see when and by whom similar texts and speeches had been produced throughout history. The research also sought to examine the political relations and power dynamics they represented as well as the actions they celebrated and foregrounded, or condemned and marginalized.

To identify common philosophical and theological roots of the disclosing discourse, the present study used Ruth Wodak’s Discourse–Historical Approach (DHA) which inclusively analyzes the contextual similarities among texts of a specific discourse. DHA offers an in-depth analysis of the inner context of a text, employing conceptual tools for examining a text at the levels of word, sentence, and the whole structure. DHA focuses on identifying discursive strategies, as well as implicit and explicit implications of the text. Wodak’s critical and meta-descriptive approach empowers researchers to delve into the concealed and underlying layers of a text, potentially revealing the intertextual relations between various texts. Moreover, Wodak’s historical perspective and her emphasis on historicism can help overcome the shortcomings of the post-structuralistic analysis caused by overlooking historical background and context. DHA takes into account the relationship between the text and the political conditions of its production, ultimately providing a predictive description of the situation, the actors involved, and the factors behind specific actions.

The research aimed to uncover the shared philosophical and theological features among the texts produced in different periods that harbored the disclosing discourse. According to the research results, the shared features include:Applying various delegitimization methods by the speaker Adopting a holistic approach, avoiding foregrounding a specific social cast, and showcasing the diversity of regime dissidents Prioritizing rational arguments over emotionalism and mythicism Creating a historical vision and depicting the struggle between right and wrong Making political identification and setting limits or othering foreign powers Extending the struggle from the political field to the social sphere

Presenting a bright prospect:

Undermining the image of the regime’s bureaucratic and military structure Explaining the physical and symbolic violence perpetrated by the regime The words associated with the disclosing discourse would convey a definite truth, not a constructed political mentality nor a merely political conflict over power. This discourse could serve as a manifestation of the prevailing truth within the political field, representing all dissatisfied individuals across various sections of society. In the contemporary history of Iran, the same truth had partially surfaced through expressions of liberty, anti-despotism, independence, and anti-colonialism. However, it was during the Islamic Revolution that the same truth came to the forefront in its entirety.

It seems that the disclosing discourse occurs in times of erosion of political stability; when there is disequilibrium and disorder within the political milieu, primarily resulting from the collapse of one order and the failure to establish another. The identity constructed through the disclosing discourse is interdiscursive, absorbing elements from different discourses and reconfiguring them internally. Historical discourses such as independence, freedom, justice, anti-colonialism, and anti-despotism are integral to the disclosing discourse. This kind of discourse accentuates its broad acceptability and social base to socialize the constructed identity. Additionally, it does not differentiate or discriminate its diverse and pluralistic followers, urging all to unite against prevailing power structures.