Public Governance, Development Planning and Political Development in the Islamic Republic of Iran

The purpose of this article was to examine the role of political development in the context of development planning and public governance in the Islamic Republic of Iran. It also intended to find out if the country has ever followed a formal documented program for political development. Furthermore, it tried to explore the requirements of public governance in the framework of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s system.

Data were collected, organized, and analyzed after reviewing and studying documents, articles, interviews, Sand lectures.

Data analysis shows that there has been no independent, formal, and documented plan for political development ever since the revolution was won. Although some provisions of the Development Plans have focused on political issues, none has provided a noticeable framework to coordinate and align all parts of the Development Plans with political development.

Implications: 

The goal of political development and the function of public governance in the ideology overshadowing the Islamic Republic is regulating the society based on Islamic teaching. The source of this teaching is Shiait Fiqh; accordingly, ideal governance and dependable public governance will be the product of unanimity among Shiait high ranking clergies (Fuqaha). Considering the importance of political development to advance and realize the society’s ideology and the Islamic civilization, it is imperative for the state to produce a workable theory and an independent plan in accordance with the specific concept of political development in the Islamic Republic of Iran in order to be able to harmonize the set of changes in the society and various programs according to the planned steps in the path of Islamic civilization.