Iranian press abroad before the 1905-1911 revolution: influence on society and politics

This article is dedicated to the study of Iranian periodicals published by émigrés abroad that played a significant role in Iran’s political and social development on the eve of the 1905–1911 revolution. Amid growing public discontent caused by economic difficulties, political instability, and foreign influence, these publications became essential channels for spreading revolutionary ideas and criticizing the government. The foreign Iranian press served several functions: it informed about political and social issues, offered alternative views on the country’s development, and fostered national consciousness. The articles, pamphlets, and essays discussed ideas of constitutionalism, human rights, protection of national interests, and limitations on monarchical power. These publications resonated within Iran, where educated and politically active segments of the population read them, despite distribution challenges and strict censorship. Iranian publications abroad significantly influenced public opinion in Iran, stimulating political engagement, creating a demand for reform, and fueling revolutionary sentiment. The article examines how these newspapers and magazines, through the lens of foreign experience and Western Enlightenment concepts, promoted a desire for modernization and the struggle for civil rights. It is emphasized that their activity became one of the factors that prepared society for the Constitutional Revolution, marking the beginning of a new phase in Iranian history.