A Study of the Economic Agency of Tabriz and Azerbaijan Merchants during the Constitutional Movement and Reza Shah’s Reign Based on the Theory of Embeddedness

Document Type : Original Research

Authors

University of Tabriz

10.22034/sls.2026.68096.1554

Abstract

This study examines the economic agency of merchants in Tabriz and Azerbaijan from the Constitutional Movement to the reign of Reza Shah, employing the concept of embeddedness from new economic sociology. Utilizing historical-analytical methods and drawing on archival sources and prior research, the article argues that the merchants’ economic actions were not solely driven by rational self-interest but were profoundly shaped by cultural values, social norms, political structures, and social networks. Tabriz emerged as a major economic and political center during the late Qajar and early Pahlavi periods; the behavior of its merchants reflects deep connections with the era’s cultural and social milieus. The research finds that the city’s economic decline and the migration of merchants to Tehran were the consequence of a complex interaction of international, national, and regional dynamics—factors that cannot be sufficiently explained by classical or neoclassical economic theories focusing on profit maximization. By focusing on networks, values, and contextual factors, the study provides a novel framework for interpreting economic behavior in modern Iran and offers valuable insights into how historical, economic, and societal dimensions are interlinked. This perspective deepens understanding of the interplay between economy, society, and history in Iran’s modern transformation.

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Journal of Sociology of Lifestyle (SLS)
Volume 11, Issue 3
September 2026

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History

  • Receive Date: 27 August 2025
  • Revise Date: 11 January 2026
  • Accept Date: 18 January 2026
  • Publish Date: 23 September 2026

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