What kind of society was Iran before the constitutional revolution of 1906, feudal or despotic and 'asiatic'? In this book, the first of its kind, Dr Vali critically assesses both arguments, examining the works of high social theory from which this long-running controversy derives and developing new concepts for the analysis of state and social relations in pre-capitalist Iran. He also paints an illuminating portrait of politics and society in Qajar Iran.