Full Description:
Westoxification (or Gharbzadegi) was a potent intellectual concept that fueled the pre-revolutionary mood. It critiqued the elite’s obsession with Western technology and culture, arguing that this fascination alienated Iranians from their own history and roots. It was not merely a rejection of modern technology, but a critique of psychological colonization.
Critical Perspective:
This concept provided the revolution with its cultural logic. It framed the monarchy not just as a political dictatorship, but as a puppet regime that was actively erasing the nation’s soul to serve foreign masters. It allowed the clergy and intellectuals to frame the revolution as a necessary act of spiritual and cultural hygiene to restore national dignity.
