Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

• Zahra Mohamadpuor dehsorkhi ¹
• Mahdi Najafzadeh ²
• Vahid Sinaee ²

¹ Ph.D Student, Political Sciences, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

² Associate Professor, Department of Political Sciences, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

Abstract

Introduction
Throughout history, Iranian society has often presented a kind of public speech and action before those in power, while expressing very different forms away from their direct supervision. This conservative approach has been shaped by social structures and processes, in which elements of mystery, secrecy, and introspection lead to the formation of hidden transcripts in opposition to the overt transcripts intended by the rulers. Thus, although people may publicly show agreement with the state’s official narratives of power, they are simultaneously engaged in creating an alternative, hidden discourse. Therefore, Iranians often employ symbolic elements in their speeches and writings to convey complex concepts. To conceal their beliefs and give depth and nuance to their positions, they draw on the full range of mystical allegories, similes, and coded language found in Persian literature. At various points in history, the interaction between institutional contexts and hidden transcripts has created the foundation for unity and alliance among different groups against power, at times even contributing to the overthrow of ruling powers by challenging political and social structures. Thus, these hidden transcripts have played an important role in shaping political and social developments in Iran. Without understanding their essential elements and underlying concepts, it is impossible to fully grasp the country’s political and social transformations. The present research aimed to analyze the role of various structures in shaping hidden transcripts that have influenced the political behavior, silent resistance, and hidden transcripts of subordinate groups in Iranian society. Since hidden narratives reflect a form of covert discourse, they should be regarded as a kind of hidden power exercised from below—a mechanism capable of weakening and challenging the ruling power.
Literature Review
In numerous studies addressing the oppression, conservatism, and fear prevalent in Iranian society, it is commonly argued that this fear and secrecy stem from the theory of Iranian despotism. However, it may be more accurate to view even this theory as a product of the broader social structure of Iranian society—one that has taken shape and persisted over a long historical process. In Language, Status, and Power in Iran, Beeman (1986) argued that the tension between inside and outside, as well as issues of status, had profoundly influenced Iranian thought and many aspects of daily life. He stated that these characteristics, rooted in distrust and social insecurity, shape interpersonal interactions in such a way that what Iranians express outwardly often differs from their true intentions or beliefs. In the Persian-language book titled On the Self-Centeredness of Iranians, Ghazi-Moradi (1999) argues that the historical dominance of authoritarian governments over Iranian society has led to the subordination of personal interests to social ones. In this context, Iranians’ inclination toward the private sphere of life has often resulted in self-centeredness and passive confrontation, with self-control being a particularly important aspect. In Iranian culture, self-control serves as a means of self-concealment and protection against the aggressions and encroachments of others. Rafie’pour (2014), in It Is a Pity If Iran Should Be Ruined, examined the dual structure of Iranian society. In his view, the formation of the state was never intended to meet the needs of society; instead, it has traditionally relied on tyranny to pursue its goals. Consequently, society—particularly the informal sector—has developed its own narratives and norms in an autochthonous and spontaneous manner. In The Displacement of Two Revolutions, Najafzadeh (2016) argued that the formation of the hidden transcript is shaped by the structural and cultural characteristics of Iranian society. According to Najafzadeh,
repeated invasions by various foreign forces, along with the overwhelming power and tyranny of the state, have compelled Iranians to adopt shaky, ambiguous social and individual behaviors as a means of self-protection and survival. In most studies on this topic, little attention has been given to the structures of Iranian society in shaping hidden transcripts. In fact, what matters are the dialectical relationships among the four macro-structural elements of Iranian society, which have facilitated the formation of hidden transcripts throughout its political and social history.
Materials and Methods
This study employed the interpretive method to examine the structures of Iranian society, their internal elements, and the relationships between them. The interpretive method seeks to clarify meaning, following a semantic analysis instead of causal one. Interpretation, therefore, is an activity centered on understanding and a process through which social reality is meaningfully constructed. In addition to the interpretive method, Scott’s theory of hidden transcripts was used to examine how the structures of Iranian society shape the hidden transcript as a social reality.
Results and Discussion
The historical cases demonstrate that the logic behind the formation of hidden transcripts in Iranian society—and their relative breadth compared to other societies—is shaped by the particular social structure developed and stabilized over a long historical process.
The structural logic of Iranian society suggests that its political and social developments are formed and interpreted through the interconnected relationships among four key structures. The research findings indicated that the four structures governing Iranian society (i.e., political, sociocultural, religious, and linguistic) shape the behavioral tendencies and capacities of Iranians. The dualistic patterns of behavior, expressed through demonstrativeness and hiding, play a crucial role in the emergence and expression of the hidden transcript and its contrast with the public transcript, resulting in the hidden transcript being far more pervasive and resilient than the public one. This influence is evident in Persian literature, where texts and manuscripts are often rich with secrets, codes, and hidden allusions. Beyond their apparent meanings, these works frequently carry esoteric meanings, and a common feature across many manuscripts is the deliberate obscurity and concealment of their content.
Conclusion
Investigating hidden narratives requires understanding the forms of social relations, situations, and societal structures that give rise to these narratives at specific times and places. Throughout history, the authoritarian political structure of Iranian society, together with other social structures, has allowed aspects of the society’s silent resistance to be expressed extensively through hidden transcripts, thus being immune to the violence of the ruling elite. The findings of the present study helped decode four main structures—political, sociocultural, religious, and linguistic—which collectively shape individual and social behavior in Iranian society. These structures appear to emerge from a coherent logic while simultaneously interacting synergistically throughout Iran’s sociopolitical history. Any analysis of Iranian society, particularly its micro- and macro-level ethology, that overlooks these structures risks being misleading.

Keywords

• Iranian Society
• Quadruple Structure
• Autocratic Rule
• Duality of Behavior
• Hidden Transcripts

Main Subjects

• Political Science