Requirements for Iran’s cultural reappearance on global stage
By Mohammad Mehdi Esmaeili
Iran's Culture Minister
“Cultural surrender” in the face of invading cultures and external powers is considered as “irrational” by Iranians. When foreign governments attacked our homeland in various historical periods, no foreign culture disintegrated Iran; instead, it assimilated in Iran and Islam. Despite the nation’s historical awareness of the consequences of foreign domination, some intellectual forces have glorified invading cultures or promoted elements of them, constructing arguments to persuade others to accept the theory of surrender.
“Surrenderism” (or foreignism) and revivalism are opposing cultural poles in Iranian society. Advocates of the “cultural surrender” theory lack progressive ideas for transformation, instead recommending outdated theories based on “modernization” and “Westernization.” Some groups in Iran still present “cultural self-destruction” as a novel idea, a detrimental notion injected into society with enticing appearances but carrying significant cultural drawbacks.
In contrast, revivalists possess a rich history, historical identity, a comprehensive system of knowledge, flexible literature, and a coherent theory. Formulated as “Reviving the Principle of Cultural Authenticity,” this theory acknowledges that culture shapes the “social structure” as the identity of a society.
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