An Analysis of the 9th Presidential Election of the Islamic Republic of Iran from the Perspective of Structure and Agency

The purpose of the present study is to analyze contributing factors behind the transformation of people's electoral behavior in the 9th presidential election of the Islamic Republic of Iran from the perspective of structure and agency. Using the theoretical framework of structure and agency and with an analytical approach and qualitative method, this research identified the structures and agencies effective on the election and also dealt with their roles. The results showed that the electoral behavior of Iranian people is under the influence of structural factors such as economic, social, and political background, and agency factors such as characteristic features of the candidates, the electoral propaganda, and the candidates' approach to the performance of former governments. Every single structure or agency factor per se has not been the only effective factor on the election of presidential candidates, however, propaganda agency (specially the negative type) has had a conspicuous impact on the victory and defeat of the candidates provided that structural conditions were met. Considering the uncertain status of political parties in Iran, factional and party support of a given candidate could not have brought victory for him. On the other hand, the emergence of passive participation among people is among issues requiring the appropriate policy of the officials in order to avoid likely harms on Islamic community and pave the way for the purposeful participation in the political realm.