Religion and State in Iran 1785-1906. The Role of the ‘Ulama in the Qajar Period.

The author examines the interests of the “ulama” & their influence on political events in the Qajar period up to 1906. His thesis is that they played a fairly consistent role throughout the 19th century. He concludes that the tentative efforts to reform and strengthen the state by Amir Kabir, Muhammad Husayn Khan and others were bound to be opposed by the ulama because these attempts threatened their powers and prerogatives; and because the question of reform was linked to the question of foreign influence.