MODERNITY AND CULTURAL AUTHENTICISM: A COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEEN RUSSIA AND IRAN

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Abstract

Modernity is a reality that formed in framework of the enlightenment movement and histo-cultural context of west European countries as an internal process. Because of the disseminating nature of modernity, its waves spread across the non-western countries. This article focuses on the outcomes of imported Modernity in Intellectual level of the non-western countries. For analyzing this topic, Russia and Iran have been selected as case studies. In this framework, I argue the imported modernity, after an imitation and infatuation period, caused an Identity Crisis within intellectuals. Looking for a way to overcome the crisis, Russian and Iranian intellectuals, under the impact of the German anti-enlightenment thinkers, called to returne on authentic culture and so they denounced imitation of western models. In this research, historical sociology is used as methodological framework, since historical sociology is the best approach for doing a comparative study which stresses on cultural elements.

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