Hawzah News Agency- A comprehensive understanding of today’s political, cultural, and military developments remains incomplete without acknowledging their civilizational depth. The Islamic Revolution of Iran was never merely a political coup or a change in government; it was, from the very beginning, a groundbreaking endeavor to establish a new civilizational paradigm. Consequently, the conflicts that emerged afterward, including the eight-year Sacred Defense (Iran–Iraq war), transcend conventional political rivalries and must be analyzed as a clash of civilizations.
Iran: A Historical Cradle of Civilization
Dr. Ebrahim Fayyaz, a prominent sociologist and faculty member of the University of Tehran, argues that the Sacred Defense was not just a regional military skirmish. “Throughout history, Iran has been a key hub for the birth and expansion of civilizations—from ancient times through the Islamic era and the Safavid dynasty up to the present,” he stated.
Fayyaz noted that even the Pahlavi regime, with its hollow claim of the “Great Civilization,” tried to project a fake image of progress, yet it failed due to its corruption, dependence on the West, and deep disconnect from the people. In contrast, the Islamic Revolution introduced the defining slogan “Neither East, nor West” —a declaration of civilizational independence, aiming to forge an Islamic model rooted in justice, spirituality, and resistance.
Window-Dressing “Civilizations” vs. The Authentic Model
According to Fayyaz, many wealthy Persian Gulf states represent nothing more than a “showcase civilization” —gleaming towers and shopping malls lacking historical depth, cultural backbone, or social resilience. Such fragile structures collapse under economic or political pressure, unlike the Islamic Republic, which draws strength from its historical and religious foundations.
The Clash of Civilizations Revisited
The sociologist further pointed out that Western theorists who spoke of a “clash of civilizations” now see the Islamic civilization as the primary challenge to the fading Western order. “The Islamic Republic of Iran is central to shaping a new model within the Muslim world,” Fayyaz stressed. “That is precisely why the hegemonic system—led by the US and the Zionist entity—has imposed all its weight against Iran. The recent imposed war must be understood in this very context: a resistance by a rising civilization against an old, decaying one.”
Key Indicators of the Ongoing Civilizational War
Narges Shokrzadeh, a researcher from the Seminary of Qom, elaborated on the main features of this civilizational confrontation:
- Divergent worldviews: A fundamental clash between the monotheistic, value-based system of Islam and the secular, liberal, and materialistic worldview of the West.
- Contesting historical narratives: Each side sees itself as the carrier of a divine or universal mission, viewing the other as a false, opposing narrative.
- Comprehensive struggle: The battle extends beyond politics to culture, media, technology, science, identity, and ethics.
- Redefining global order: Both sides present themselves as architects of a new world order—one based on justice and spirituality, the other on domination and arrogance.
“This is not a mere political dispute,” Shokrzadeh asserted. “It is an inherent, existential conflict between the civilization of monotheism (Tawhid) and the civilization of atheism and hedonism.”
The Final Victory of the Truth
Citing the words of the late Leader of the Islamic Revolution, she emphasized that this war is a prelude to the inevitable decline of the hegemonic, atheistic civilization and the rise of a global monotheistic civilization. “By the grace of God, the Iranian nation, after emerging victorious in this historic battle, will rise to the status of a continental power and a transcontinental actor,” she added.
Shokrzadeh concluded that the current alignment of global forces has made the two fronts—the camp of the arrogant powers (US and Israel) versus the camp of the righteous and justice-seekers—more explicit than ever. “Today, across the world, countless truth-seekers and advocates of justice have sided with the Islamic Republic. This is the clearest testament to the nature of this all-out civilizational war.”
Seyyed Mohammad Mehdi Mousavi
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