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Bakhshi Ostad M A, Heidari A R. Social Order in the Safavid State with Emphasis on North's Theory of the Fragile Natural State. JHS 2021; 13 (1) :1-46
URL: http://jhs.modares.ac.ir/article-25-35562-en.html

The Safavid dynasty often considered the beginning of modern Iranian history in which the first independent Iranian state after Islam was founded. However, the Safavid government was relatively able to regulate violence and achieve in some degree, but after some time, social order faced a crisis and collapse. This study investigates the causes of this by citing historical sources, using a comparative and analytical method and relying on the model of the fragile natural state presented by North, Wallis and Weingast. Based on the findings of this study characteristics of the Safavid government in the four themes of "failure to form a stable coalition", "imbalance between social forces", "personal, informal and unilateral structure of political power" and "monopoly of political economy and violation of property rights" are similar to the main indicators of fragile natural government.