کارکردهای اجتماعی انجمن های گیلان عصرمشروطه(مطالعه موردی: انجمن های ایالتی و ولایتی)

The Iranian Constitutional Revolution (1906) transformed not only the political structure but also the social sphere and civil institutions of the country. Among these changes, "Associations" (Anjumans) emerged as a new phenomenon arising from the relatively free atmosphere following the revolution, becoming hubs for public participation in determining their own destiny. In the progressive and strategic region of Gilan, which served as a gateway to Europe and the Caucasus, provincial and regional associations formed as official local governance bodies.

Although previous studies have generally addressed the role of associations during the Constitutional era, and some have even mentioned Gilan's associations, there is a significant research gap regarding the specific social functions of these local institutions in Gilan. Using a historical and descriptive-analytical method, and drawing on newspapers from the Constitutional period and library resources, this study seeks to answer the question: what social functions did the provincial and regional associations of Gilan serve, and how did these activities impact the social structure of the region? The findings indicate that these associations operated in four main areas: security-building (managing the peasant movement, overseeing administrations, and protecting foreign nationals); justice-seeking (using judicial authority to abolish oppressive customs and address complaints); health and educational developments (establishing health councils, hospitals, and new schools); and political mobilization. Despite challenges such as dependence on the central government and internal disputes, these associations played a crucial role in the social transformations of Gilan and provided an indigenous model for participatory local governance.