A Fresh Perspective on Imam Khamenei’s Theory of Religious Democracy

Authors

1 Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Theology, Al-Mustafa School, Tehran, Iran.

2 Ph.D. in Strategic Defense Studies, Supreme National Defense University, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

Religious democracy is a model of governance based on divine-popular legitimacy, which while prioritizing the will and decree of the Almighty, also authenticates the will of the people. It holds that the people play a fundamental role in the formation, continuity, efficacy, and flourishing of the government, being in truth its primary owners and overseers. The theory of religious democracy was founded by Imam Khomeini and subsequently elevated, elucidated, and perpetuated by Imam Khamenei. This research aims to present a novel exegesis and interpretation of Imam Khamenei’s theory of religious democracy. Employing a descriptive, inferential, and Interpretative methodology, this article first provides a comprehensive yet concise exposition of the core concepts of democracy and religion, then analyzes the concept of religious democracy from Imam Khamenei’s perspective. We have demonstrated that, in his view, religious-democratic governance rests upon three foundational pillars, the absence of any one of which would lead to its collapse. These pillars, in order of priority, are: (1) the realization of scientific, managerial, insight-based, and ethical competencies in the officials of the religious-democratic system; (2) the establishment of governance through public consent and participation; and (3) the efficacy of the religious-democratic system. Finally, while analyzing and explicating the ostensibly paradoxical nature of religious democracy, we present a comprehensive critique through nine rigorous scholarly responses.

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