Durham E-Theses
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Durham E-Theses The Production of Post-Revolutionary Tehran: A study of transformation of contemporary Tehran through a Lefebvrian perspective SADRVAGHEFI, SEYED,HOSSAIN How to cite: SADRVAGHEFI, SEYED,HOSSAIN (2017) The Production of Post-Revolutionary Tehran: A study of transformation of contemporary Tehran through a Lefebvrian perspective , Durham theses, Durham University. Available at Durham E-Theses Online: http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/12263/ Use policy The full-text may be used and/or reproduced, and given to third parties in any format or medium, without prior permission or charge, for personal research or study, educational, or not-for-prot purposes provided that: • a full bibliographic reference is made to the original source • a link is made to the metadata record in Durham E-Theses • the full-text is not changed in any way The full-text must not be sold in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders. Please consult the full Durham E-Theses policy for further details. Academic Support Oce, Durham University, University Oce, Old Elvet, Durham DH1 3HP e-mail: [email protected] Tel: +44 0191 334 6107 http://etheses.dur.ac.uk 2 The Production of Post-Revolutionary Tehran A study of transformation of contemporary Tehran through a Lefebvrian perspective A Thesis Submitted for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy By SEYED HOSSAIN SADRVAGHEFI Durham University Department of Geography United Kingdom 2017 1 Abstract: The present study addresses the transformation of post-revolutionary Tehran beginning with its modern construction since the mid-19th century. In so doing, Lefebvre’s theories and concepts have been employed as a theoretical framework. However, it is not only a reading of Tehran’s transformation through a Lefebvrian lens. It is, also, a modification of Lefebvre’s theory through Tehran. Enhanced by the particularity of Tehran, this aim follows by introducing new concepts such as Islamification, externalisation of the interior and internalisation of the exterior, Arbab and Ra’yaat space and so on to the Lefebvrian conceptual framework. This research deals with three constitutive elements (economic processes, Islamification, and resistance) from three scales (global, national, and private) in three periods (pre-revolutionary, post-revolutionary, neoliberal). It is shown that Tehran in each period is characterised by constant interaction of the abovementioned elements and interpenetration of these varied scales. In this regard, not only is Tehran examined in distinct periods, but also it is proposed a logic of continuity between these analytically separated epochs. Therefore, this study reconstructs the development of Tehran through its continuities and discontinuities. This multi-dimensional study enables us to present a holistic view of the transformation of the city of Tehran. Keeping with the idea of totality, the research suggests that while the production of Tehran contains global processes and universal forms, it is differentiated through its particular characteristics such as Islamic ideology and its position within the global order. 2 Table of Contents Introduction: ............................................................................................................................................ 8 Chapter 1: Theoretical Framework ........................................................................................................ 15 1-1- Theoretical framework............................................................................................................ 16 1-1-1- Literature Review: Theses on Tehran ........................................................................... 16 1-1-1-1- First theory: Arbitrary State .................................................................................. 18 1-1-1-2- Second theory: The city of force ............................................................................. 20 1-1-1-3- Arbab-Ra’yaat space ............................................................................................... 23 1-1-1-4- Third theory: Rentier state ..................................................................................... 25 1-1-1-5- Forth Theory: The City of Paradox ....................................................................... 28 1-1-2- On Lefebvre...................................................................................................................... 35 1-1-2-1- Lefebvrian dialectical logic ..................................................................................... 36 1-1-2-2- Spatial turn ............................................................................................................... 41 1-1-2-3- The dialectical development of space ..................................................................... 43 1-1-2-4- Historical development of the city .......................................................................... 46 1-1-2-5- Synchronic analysis of the urban: city as an oeuvre............................................. 51 1-1-2-6- Use value and exchange value ................................................................................. 55 1-1-2-7- Habiting and habitat ............................................................................................... 56 1-1-2-8- Political aspect of Lefebvre’s theory ...................................................................... 57 1-1-2-9- Politics of space ........................................................................................................ 59 1-1-3- On urban theory .............................................................................................................. 61 1-1-4- On the space of resistance ............................................................................................... 73 Chapter 2: Methodology ........................................................................................................................ 82 2-1- Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 83 2-2- The concern over totality............................................................................................................. 84 2-3- Epistemological concern ................................................................................................................ 87 2-4- The concretisation of the urban .................................................................................................. 91 2-5- The problematic of geographical scale ....................................................................................... 95 2-6- Operationalisation ..................................................................................................................... 100 2-7- Limitations of research .............................................................................................................. 103 Chapter 3: Pre-Revolutionary Tehran .................................................................................................. 106 3-1- Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 107 3 3-2- The incorporation of Iran into the global order ............................................................................ 107 3-3- The advent of Iranian modernity .................................................................................................. 114 3-4- The land problematic: The transformation of meaning and function of land .............................. 121 3-5- Implications of modernisation on Tehran .................................................................................... 127 3-5-1- Urbanisation ........................................................................................................................ 128 3-5-2- The emergence of wage labour .......................................................................................... 136 3-5-3- The spatiality of emerging classes ..................................................................................... 138 3-5-4- The emergence and growth of satellite cities .................................................................... 146 3-6- Conclusion ................................................................................................................................... 153 Chapter 4: The War Period: ................................................................................................................. 157 4-1- Political Economy of the Revolution ........................................................................................ 159 4-1-1- Nationalisation ........................................................................................................................ 163 4-1-2- Revolutionary institutions: .................................................................................................... 167 4-1-3- Urban problematic ................................................................................................................. 172 4-1-3-1- The level of legislation ..................................................................................................... 173 4-1-3-2- Level of Materialisation .................................................................................................. 179 4-2- The production of Islamic space ..............................................................................................