Evolution of Political Thought among Clergy and Seminaries and the Capacity for Political Theorizing in the Recent Century

The present study aims to examine the evolution of political thought among the clergy and seminaries and the capacity for political theorizing in the recent century. In this regard, the method of historical sociology has been employed. The research is based on the hypothesis that "the clergy, with the strategy of preserving the survival of the seminaries and avoiding politics, have shifted towards political thought and organizing the lives of people based on the theory of the Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist (Velayat-e Faqih)." The results showed that the evolution and transformation of political thought among the clergy and seminaries and their capacity for political theorizing in the recent century, indebted to the efforts of predecessors, including the institution of the seminary and the clergy of the 19th century, particularly two currents with two political theories: first, Mirza Shirazi with the theory of integrating Sharia with politics, and second, the theory of averting the greater evil by tolerating the lesser evil, in the form of Naeini's constitutional monarchy and alongside it Sheikh Fazlollah's constitutional monarchy with a religious framework, were able to sustain the political thought of the clergy in the 20th century. With the presentation of the theory of Velayat-e Faqih by Imam Khomeini, this evolution and transformation were showcased. Nevertheless, political theorizing among the clergy is still alive, as theories have been proposed in continuation of Imam Khomeini's theory of religious democracy. Although some theories have been compatible with it, they have aimed to complete it by emphasizing either the Islamic or the republican aspect. Others have had political theories in conflict with Imam Khomeini's theory, indicating that the evolution and transformation of political thought among the clergy have not reached a deadlock and are ongoing.