Gharbzadegi

The polemic essay by Jalal Al-e Ahmad (1923–1969) gained worldwide fame and was translated into many languages. In it, the internal problems of Iran are viewed through the lens of the unequal relationship between the country and the West. The... term "gharbzadegi"—literally translated from Persian as "defeated by the West"—was adopted by Al-e Ahmad from the Iranian thinker Ahmad Fariduddin, and he attributed to it a meaning that became central—technological, cultural, and ideological dependence of Iran on the West. This essay is mistakenly interpreted as an Islamist text; however, "Gharbzadegi" criticizes colonialism but not progress per se. In our time, when the confrontation between the ideologies of globalization and anti-globalization remains relevant, and the issues of post-colonial national identity remain sensitive, Al-e Ahmad's work will be of interest to a wide audience.