Examining the conceptual-theoretical possibilities of Douglas North's historical institutionalism approach in government studies (Case Study of the per-modern Iranian State)

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

SBU Department of History

Abstract

Douglas North, the historical institutional economist, and his colleagues entered the discussion of the state by addressing the problem of controlling violence as a fundamental challenge in the discussion of sustainable development. The order of limited access and the natural state were among the most important concepts with the help of which North and his colleagues were able to provide a theoretical plan of the nature, internal mechanism, and specific function of premodern states. The main problem of the research was formed from a creative dialogue with these achievements, and finally this formulation organized the main question, as follows: first, what theoretical possibilities does this historical institutional theorizing provide for understanding the state in premodern states, and second, how can conceptual and theoretical possibilities be effective in understanding the nature, internal mechanism, and function of the ancient Iranian state?

The research method of the present study was considered a "thematic-historical" method. In the historical-subjective method, historical phenomena are explained and explained using concepts and theory. However, the difference is that it is not related to non-historical conceptual and theoretical frameworks, whereas in the historical-subjective method, concepts and theory are conditioned and rearranged by the concrete aspect of the research subject. As a result of the present research it became clear that the basic concepts in state-ology of the natural state (pre-modern) and the theory of limited access social order have suitable capabilities for studying the ancient Iranian state. Of course, the concept of the natural state and the theory of limited access order, by taking into account the specific characteristics of the historical experience of Iran, make it possible to explain the nature and internal mechanism of the ancient monarchy and the secret of its long-term survival.

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Main Subjects

Tārīkh-i Īrān

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 26 March 2026

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