اشاراتی «دیگر» به علوم اجتماعی در ایران

Introduction
A common assessment in examining the state and quantitative growth of social sciences in Iran posits that, when considering the inherently "self-reliant and self-sufficient nature of the scientific institution," the expansion of social sciences in Iran is more a state-constructed phenomenon than a scientific one. Social science education largely functions as a process channeling a number of young people into universities to obtain degrees, rather than remaining unemployed. A portion of these graduates are absorbed into the bureaucracy, becoming government employees, while another portion rejoins the ranks of the unemployed. However, these unemployed individuals, now holding university degrees, are often unwilling to engage in manual labor. This paper aims to distance itself from this "pessimistic" assessment without falling into the trap of "whitewashing," and instead offer a critical defense of the growth of social sciences and empirical knowledge over a ninety-year period. This implies that shortcomings will not be concealed. The focus here is on explaining this ninety-year span, particularly the last forty-five years of sociology's history in Iran. Prior to the establishment of the Higher Teacher Training College and the University of Tehran (1934), there existed attention and reflection (though not scientific study) on social life in Iran, predominantly documented in the literary and philosophical works of Iran's eminent figures. For instance, it is said that Professor Gholamhossein Sedighi taught a course titled "Social Issues in Persian Literature" in the Faculty of Social Sciences, presenting noteworthy material on these reflections. However, from 1935 onwards, both instruction based on scientific-empirical study of social realities and scientific research commenced. Therefore, this paper concentrates on the social sciences of Iran's modern era, not the ancient period.
Method
The present study is a descriptive, exploratory inquiry. Based on the author's experiences—six years of undergraduate and graduate study in sociology and nearly three decades of teaching courses on social change and political sociology in the Faculty of Social Sciences—it seeks to develop a profound understanding of the issue of social sciences in Iran. This article does not claim to present a methodical, scientific research project; rather, it offers an evaluation based on the author's experiences, which may prove useful for more systematic research.
Findings
Focusing on social sciences at the University of Tehran, this study deems attention to ten key spheres essential for a comprehensive examination of this field in Iran: 1) Social science education at the Islamic Azad University, 2) The performance of social science departments in other major universities nationwide, 3) Research conducted by institutes under the supervision of the Ministry of Science, 4) The record of the University of Tehran's Institute for Social Research (1958-1972), 5) The role of the Iranian Sociological Association, 6) The content of scientific and promotional journals and books, 7) Social science productions in the virtual space, 8) The works of Iranian scholars abroad, 9) The permeation of social science concepts into public discourse, and 10) The role of six influential figures (Sedighi, Naraqi, Arianpour, Shariati, Tavassoli, and Ghaeni-Rad). In content evaluation, employing Burawoy's model, four types of sociology are analyzed: Academic sociology, despite facing obstacles such as faculty vetting, self-censorship, and political pressures, has sustained itself through a relative freedom in selecting research topics and the continuity of intellectual circles. Policy sociology has been extensive in the form of empirical studies and surveys by state institutions (e.g., national surveys on values and social capital). Critical sociology has emerged in five main currents: Marxist, Revolutionary Islam (Shariati), Reformist (influenced by Soroush, Bashiriyeh, etc.), the Discourse of Resistance (state-affiliated), and the Discourse of Consensus (emphasizing gradual change and justice), in addition to a feminist critical perspective characterized by discursive plurality and new activism. Finally, public sociology, emphasizing public participation, attention to tangible issues, and connection with civil institutions, although more recent and facing challenges such as security constraints and lack of support, continues to endure. Overall, social sciences in Iran, despite structural pressures and limitations, have persisted across academic, policy, critical, and public spheres, maintaining their influence on the public domain.
Conclusion
Over ninety years, social sciences in Iran have experienced significant quantitative growth in the number of faculty, students, and publications. This growth has provided the necessary groundwork for qualitative enhancement. The most important achievements include: the expansion of academic institutions, increased public "social literacy," the permeation of concepts such as civil society and citizenship rights into public discourse, and the development of qualitative and mixed research methods alongside quantitative ones. Furthermore, secular and critical social sciences have persisted despite political pressures and the official discourse of religious social sciences, playing a significant role in shifting the paradigm of social change from a revolutionary model towards gradual and peaceful reform. However, numerous structural challenges persist: constraints on researching sensitive topics, theoretical fragmentation, weakness in securing research funding, limited access to data, and the emigration of elites. The future of the discipline depends on its ability to integrate global theories with Iran's local conditions, preserve its critical autonomy, and focus on addressing tangible and emerging societal issues (such as cyberspace, the environment, and youth protests). The path of Iranian social sciences, albeit fraught with challenges, has been fruitful and possesses an undeniable capacity for understanding and improving society.