Ali Shariati's thought continues to shape the identity of contemporary Iran.
From the reinterpretation of Shiism to the fight against cultural imperialism, his ideas offer an essential key to understanding the choices of the Islamic Republic and the Axis of Resistance.
It may come as a surprise in the West to discover that Iran's resistance – capable of challenging its adversaries and redefining the geopolitical balance of the Middle East – can also be understood through the thought of a philosopher who died even before the advent of the Islamic Revolution of 1979. This is Ali Shariati, whose theories continue to exert a profound influence on contemporary Iran.
Shiism as an ideology of liberation
Shariati has reinterpreted Shiism: no longer a religion of passivity or pure ritual observance, but a revolutionary force and an ideology of liberation.
Universalizing the Quranic concept of Mostaza'fin (the oppressed of the Earth), he did not limit this term to Muslims alone, but extended it to the entire global South exploited by capitalism and Western imperialism. It is no coincidence, therefore, that today's Iran presents itself not only as a regional power, but as a global vanguard in defense of the weak (Palestinians, Syrians, Yemenis) against the hegemony of the strong (the United States and Israel).
The break with cultural hegemony
Shariati viewed the West as a cultural and economic predator. He therefore theorized the need for a complete break with Western hegemony, a necessary step to rediscover Islamic authenticity and true political independence.
In perfect continuity with this vision, the Islamic Republic identifies US influence in the Middle East as the ultimate expression of modern imperialism. Military resistance and the refusal to negotiate its sovereignty with Washington are not perceived as mere diplomatic choices, but as a ideological and religious duty to avoid submission.
Martyrdom: a conscious revolutionary action
Another fundamental point of Shariati's thought is his redefinition of the concept of martyrdom on the path of GodThis is not a tragedy suffered passively, but rather a conscious revolutionary action.
The martyr chooses to die to inflict a moral and political defeat on the tyrant. This tyrant—historically embodied by Yazid, the usurper who massacred Imam Hussein (the Prophet's grandson)—today takes on the characteristics of Israel and the United States for Iran. From this perspective, resistance against Israel is nothing other than the continuation of the historic battle for justice against oppression.
Legacy in Today's Iran
On the day of his commemoration, it is essential to remember how Ali Shariati's thinking remains crucial today, not only in conceptualizing Iranian strategy, but in defining its very identity.
The defense of the oppressed, the fight against tyrants, and martyrdom in the path of God are highly relevant and fundamental elements of the Islamic Republic and its people. These concepts are rooted in Islamic doctrine, but figures such as Shariati and Imam Khomeini were able to modernise them, transforming them into practice and giving them new and indomitable energy.