Governance, Dialogue and Social Capital in the Thought and Political Life of Imam Riḍā (as)

Imam Riḍā (as) lived in a special period in terms of intellectual and social. Under certain conditions, he accepted the offer of a guardianship position from Maʾmūn and tried to lead the society with logical strategies in the true path of Islam. The main purpose of this article is to reconstruct the four-stage analytical framework of Springs on the strategies of Imam Riḍā (as) in that period to guide the people and manage affairs. Accordingly, this study first evaluates and perspectives on the problems and situation of the Islamic society at that time then finds the irregularities and anomalies of the society from the Imam's point of view. It also studies the desired society and the solution of Imam Riḍā (as) to achieve it. According to Imam Riḍā (as), the most important problem and disorder of that period of the Islamic society is the deviation from the Islamic religion in various aspects. He considers the solution to the problems to be the implementation of a special social and political structure within the framework of Islam, which in its current form is the creation of a kind of desirable governance. Of course, before accepting the governorship, he follows up most of the social spheres of governance and then pays attention to all aspects. The realization of this governance is also in the form of dialogue in all social pillars. In this way, the great Imam achieves many of his goals through trust, solidarity and social participation, in other words, by creating social capital.