"Westoxication" and "intellectualism" in the writings of Jalāl-e Āl-e Aḥmad

Jalal-e Al-e Ahmad in his writings raised three issues as being the problematic areas in modern social life in Iran: the identity of the individual Iranian, the need for modernity and national independence, the need to fight against dictatorship. Culture and religion, according to him, are inseparable in the definition of being an Iranian. It is possible to face the external enemy, only when the convergence of tradition and modernity takes place. The intellectuals, according to him, are the prophets of the modern age who have to call upon the Rowhaniyat, to make a coalition against the authocratic state and in favor of emancipation of the masses from their illusion which is caused by the impact of the West on Iran. Thus, according to him, any politico-cultural frontier has to merge with tradition. The representatives of tradition, Rowhaniyat, are the corner stones to any social reform in Iran. According to him it is only through the unity between the intellectuals and the Rowhaniyat that the real unity of the country is possible