The Impact of Popular Acceptance in Legitimizing Governance from the Perspective of Mīrzā Nāʾīnī

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, Department of Political Philosophy, Islamic Sciences and Culture Academy, Qom, Iran.

2 Seminary student (Level Three) and Master's student in Religions and Mysticism, Farabi Campus, University of Tehran, Qom, Iran

10.22081/psq.2024.66629.2790

Abstract

In Shiite political philosophy, the legitimacy of governance fundamentally depends on divine appointment. However, since the will and opinion of the people can influence the legitimacy of a government, examining the role of popular acceptance in conferring legitimacy has historically held significance within Shiite beliefs, as it sheds light on the relationship of Shiite political philosophy with concepts like democracy. This article, using a descriptive-analytical method and library sources, explores the influence of popular acceptance in establishing and maintaining governmental legitimacy from the perspective of Mīrzā Nāʾīnī. The article seeks to support the claim that, according to Nāʾīnī, popular consent does not play a role in the initial establishment of legitimacy for governance; however, after a government is formed, public consent becomes essential for its continuation. In Nāʾīnī’s view, an ineffective government results in greater oppression of the people, whereas the primary endeavor of jurists during the occultation of the Imam (may God hasten his reappearance) has been to eliminate or mitigate oppression upon the people. In Nāʾīnī's theory of guardianship, governance is not the ruler’s personal possession but a trust placed with the ruler. Thus, Nāʾīnī does not see popular acceptance as a factor in establishing legitimacy, as he considers a parliamentary assembly legitimate only if it includes jurists with general appointment or those authorized by them. Nāʾīnī bases governance during the occultation on the permission and endorsement of jurists who themselves hold general appointment. Balancing divine appointment (divine legitimacy) enacted by jurists with the role and rights of the people, Nāʾīnī advocates consulting the wise among the community. In his view, popular acceptance plays a role in the continuity of governance legitimacy, as he recognizes consultation and oversight over the parliamentary assembly as a public right. Since Nāʾīnī ties the authorization of parliamentary representatives to certain conditions, which the public should monitor, it can be inferred that public dissatisfaction signals a lack of these conditions, leading to the revocation of permission and consequently the fall of legitimacy, thus reflecting the impact of popular acceptance on the continuity of governance legitimacy. Nāʾīnī’s efforts to emphasize governance as a trust and to advocate for the dismissal of a ruler unable to uphold it reflect the influence of the people's will and opinion in actualizing governance.

Keywords

References

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