DOI: 10.5176/2251-2403_PSSIR13.59
Authors: Anwesha Mukherjee
Abstract:
Iran witnessed a massive uprising in 1978-79, where the authoritarian regime of Reza Shah Pahlavi was toppled and an Islamist regime was established. This Iranian Revolution was carried out under the leadership of Ayatollah Khomeini. Michel Foucault, the renowned French philosopher visited Iran during this time and gave his unflinching support to the establishment of an Islamist state. Accordingly, he maintained an uncritical stand on “Khomeinism”. His obsession with Islamist regime stems from his staunch aversion to modernity and all its forms of social economic political institutions. Foucault’s stand led him to face several criticisms from most of the intellectuals, feminists, Leftists, liberals as he did not anticipate the torturous dictatorial nature of the Islamist regime. However, Foucault’s insistence on spiritual politics, in this particular case, is worth giving a second thought without criticizing.
Keywords: Iranian Revolution, Michel Foucault, political spirituality, anti-modernity
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