Bazaari
Encyclopedia
Bazaari is the name given to the merchants and workers of bazaar
s, the traditional marketplaces of Iran
. Bazaaris are involved in "petty trade of a traditional, or nearly traditional, kind, centered on the bazaar and its Islam
ic culture." Bazaari have been described as "the class of people who helped make the 1979 Iranian Revolution
."
A broader, more recent definition includes traditional merchants outside of Iran, "a social class ... in places where the society is in the midst of an awkward modernization; where the bazaar is in some stage of transition between the world of A Thousand and One Nights and that of the suburban shopping mall." An example being traditional merchants (also Muslim
) who back the Muslim Brotherhood
in Egypt
. However, it has also been noted that merchants in other Middle Eastern countries are predominately minority non-Muslim populations without the political influence of bazaari in Iran.
Bazaaris differ from a social class as usually defined in that they include both "rich wholesalers and bankers" and lower income workers. They are united not in their relation to the means of production but "in their resistance to dependence on the West
and the spread of Western ways," their "`traditionalist` attitude", and their "close family, financial, and cultural ties" with the Shia ulama
(clerical class).
Bazaari, "led by its large merchants", in alliance with ulama
clergy "or important parts of the clergy", have played an important part in recent Iranian history. The alliance was "central" to the successful Tobacco Protest
against a British monopoly tobacco concession in 1891-92, to the Persian Constitutional Revolution of 1905-11, and especially to the 1979 overthrow of the Shah of Iran
. Bazzari supported "families of victims" of the anti-Shah struggles in 1978 and providing "financial support for the antiregime strikes that began in May 1978 among university students and teachers and in the fall [of 1978] spread to the workers and civil servants." In Iran the bazaari have formed the "underpinning of the ruling elite until today," an example of a politically connected and successful bazaari in Iran being Mohsen Rafighdoost
, director of the Noor Foundation, who American journalist Robert D. Kaplan
describes as "in all probability" being worth "tens or hundreds of millions of dollars".
Bazaar
A bazaar , Cypriot Greek: pantopoula) is a permanent merchandising area, marketplace, or street of shops where goods and services are exchanged or sold. The term is sometimes also used to refer to the "network of merchants, bankers and craftsmen" who work that area...
s, the traditional marketplaces of Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
. Bazaaris are involved in "petty trade of a traditional, or nearly traditional, kind, centered on the bazaar and its Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
ic culture." Bazaari have been described as "the class of people who helped make the 1979 Iranian Revolution
Iranian Revolution
The Iranian Revolution refers to events involving the overthrow of Iran's monarchy under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and its replacement with an Islamic republic under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the...
."
A broader, more recent definition includes traditional merchants outside of Iran, "a social class ... in places where the society is in the midst of an awkward modernization; where the bazaar is in some stage of transition between the world of A Thousand and One Nights and that of the suburban shopping mall." An example being traditional merchants (also Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
) who back the Muslim Brotherhood
Muslim Brotherhood
The Society of the Muslim Brothers is the world's oldest and one of the largest Islamist parties, and is the largest political opposition organization in many Arab states. It was founded in 1928 in Egypt by the Islamic scholar and schoolteacher Hassan al-Banna and by the late 1940s had an...
in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. However, it has also been noted that merchants in other Middle Eastern countries are predominately minority non-Muslim populations without the political influence of bazaari in Iran.
Bazaaris differ from a social class as usually defined in that they include both "rich wholesalers and bankers" and lower income workers. They are united not in their relation to the means of production but "in their resistance to dependence on the West
Western culture
Western culture, sometimes equated with Western civilization or European civilization, refers to cultures of European origin and is used very broadly to refer to a heritage of social norms, ethical values, traditional customs, religious beliefs, political systems, and specific artifacts and...
and the spread of Western ways," their "`traditionalist` attitude", and their "close family, financial, and cultural ties" with the Shia ulama
Ulama
-In Islam:* Ulema, also transliterated "ulama", a community of legal scholars of Islam and its laws . See:**Nahdlatul Ulama **Darul-uloom Nadwatul Ulama **Jamiatul Ulama Transvaal**Jamiat ul-Ulama -Other:...
(clerical class).
Bazaari, "led by its large merchants", in alliance with ulama
Ulama
-In Islam:* Ulema, also transliterated "ulama", a community of legal scholars of Islam and its laws . See:**Nahdlatul Ulama **Darul-uloom Nadwatul Ulama **Jamiatul Ulama Transvaal**Jamiat ul-Ulama -Other:...
clergy "or important parts of the clergy", have played an important part in recent Iranian history. The alliance was "central" to the successful Tobacco Protest
Tobacco Protest
The Tobacco Protest, was a Shi'a cleric-led revolt in Iran against an 1890 tobacco concession granted by the Shah to the Western imperial power of Great Britain. The protest climaxed in a widely-obeyed December 1891 fatwa against tobacco use supposedly issued by Grand Ayatollah Mirza Hassan Shirazi...
against a British monopoly tobacco concession in 1891-92, to the Persian Constitutional Revolution of 1905-11, and especially to the 1979 overthrow of the Shah of Iran
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi
Mohammad Rezā Shāh Pahlavi, Shah of Iran, Shah of Persia , ruled Iran from 16 September 1941 until his overthrow by the Iranian Revolution on 11 February 1979...
. Bazzari supported "families of victims" of the anti-Shah struggles in 1978 and providing "financial support for the antiregime strikes that began in May 1978 among university students and teachers and in the fall [of 1978] spread to the workers and civil servants." In Iran the bazaari have formed the "underpinning of the ruling elite until today," an example of a politically connected and successful bazaari in Iran being Mohsen Rafighdoost
Mohsen Rafighdoost
Mohsen Rafighdoost is an Iranian official, the Director of the Noor Foundation.-Background:Rafighdoost's background is that of a bazaari, the traditional class of people who work in the bazaar...
, director of the Noor Foundation, who American journalist Robert D. Kaplan
Robert D. Kaplan
Robert David Kaplan is an American journalist, currently a National Correspondent for the Atlantic Monthly...
describes as "in all probability" being worth "tens or hundreds of millions of dollars".