Functional Theory: A Bridge between Political Science and Governance in Iran After the Islamic Revolution

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 PhD Student, Department of Political Science, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

2 Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

3 Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

10.22081/psq.2024.65511.2733

Abstract

This study aims to establish a link between political science and governance in Iran. The research presupposes that political science in Middle Eastern countries is an emerging discipline, where theory lags behind action. In other words, normative transformations in structural domains in these countries often precede the development of formal education in this field. Iran's delayed entry into global modernization has led to complex and layered crises in its modern history, which ultimately contributed to the collapse of the previous regime and the establishment of a new system with novel aims distinct from past paradigms. The lack of connection between political science and governance represents a key component of this overarching crisis. This article seeks to explore the role of political science in shaping Iranian governance by addressing the question: What is the place and role of political science in the dynamics of power institutions, and what steps are necessary to create an effective relationship between political science and power dynamics? The primary research question is formulated as follows: Through what processes can a connection between political science and political governance in post-Islamic Revolution Iran be established on structural and functional levels? The article hypothesizes that local development theories and the Iranian-Islamic model of progress, which resonate more closely with Iran’s political culture than Western theories, will play a significant role in advancing the literature on political governance. This development will, in turn, strengthen the structural teachings of the Islamic Revolution in Iran. This theoretical study examines the hypothesis and analyzes the data through the lens of functional theory. Since political governance is seen as a means of creating balance and stability within the social structure, the conclusion is that any structural configuration in the realms of political governance and political science will reflect its influence on cultural and social teachings. Therefore, aligning these two domains is essential and appears achievable only through the application of a functional theory.

Keywords

References

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