Re-understanding the Concept of Cultural Independence in Imam Khomeini’s Thought (An Identity-centered Approach)

One of the most important concepts in Imam Khomeini's political thought is cultural independence. The present article is an attempt to answer the following question: How cultural independence is explained in Imam Khomeini's viewpoints and thoughts and what is its status? The hypothesis of the present study is as follows: "In Imam Khomeini's thought, cultural independence is defined in order to distinguish the indigenous culture (with two components, i.e., Iranian and Islamic) from the Western culture, but this differentiation does not mean the total negation of Western cultural in an absolute and blind way. To substantiate the above-mentioned hypothesis, descriptive-analytical method has been used and identity-centered sociological approach has been employed to re-understand the concept of cultural independence with emphasis on the national dimension of identity (national cultural identity) which in itself contains cultural homogeneity vis-à-vis the differentiation with the other culture. In this regard, three characteristics of national cultural identity (preservation of cultural heritage, valuation in relation to it, and valuation in relation to the Persian language) have been comparatively studied in Imam Khomeini's thought. This comparison indicates the acceptance of the mentioned indicators not in an absolute and blind way, but in order to create an identification construct independent of the external culture and to negate the absolutist Westernist attitude of the Pahlavi government. The result is neither absolute rejection nor absolute acceptance of the Western culture, but while recognizing its positive achievements, through setting up an identity boundary with it, leads to cultural independence in this idea.