Analyzing the content of the concept people in Imam Khomeini's political thought

The subject of the current article is analyzing the content of the concept “people” in Imam Khomeini’s political thought. The idea of “people” is of a key place in Imam Khomeini’s thought and theory. The question that what is the meaning of people in Imam’s view and in what concept it is used in the political system needs evaluation and research. In this article the nature of the signifier “people” in his political thought has been analyzed with the qualitative method of content analysis and using MAXQDA software. Analyzing Imam Khomeini’s remarks on the characteristics of the people, the rights of the nation, the place and role of the nation in the Islamic system, indicators of the nation in the Islamic system, etc., one could conclude that in the political and social process and also in collaborative and collective scenes, he considers the individuals as a whole and calls them a “nation”. However, in moral discussions and also in scenes that the people have not yet reached the awareness, awakening, insight and the level of collaborative and collective action – like the period before the Islamic Revolution – he considers the individuals as separated parts and calls them the “people”. In this vein, the founder of the Islamic Republic regards a high place for the “nation” in the Islamic system and his famous remark that “the indicator is the vote of the nation” proves this. This implies to a nation which has been reached political awareness and social insight and by participating in the socio-political trend engages in a collaborative and collective action. According to him, the vote and opinion of such a nation is an indicator and a criterion for action and decision-making for the Islamic system.