State Studies of Contemporary Iran

State Studies of Contemporary Iran

Types of government in the political thought of Imam Khomeini (RA) with emphasis on her anthropological foundations

Document Type : Islamic state building

Authors
Elahe Khani Arani 1
Mohammdali Akhavian 2
1 Corresponding Author: Assistant Professor, Department of Islamic Studies, University of Qom, Qom, Iran.
2 Associate Professor, Department of Islamic Studies, University of Qom, Qom, Iran.
10.47176/irsj.2025.1318
Abstract
A reflection on Imam Khomeini's (RA) intellectual system shows that there is a complete connection, harmony, and coherence between his political thought and the ontological and anthropological foundations of the Imam (RA). As an example, this research seeks to answer the question of what is the nature of states from the perspective of Imam Khomeini? The hypothesis of the present article is that Imam (RA) divides states, like humans, into two categories: rational and ignorant, based on the foundations of his anthropology. In his thought, the existential powers of man can be divided into four powers: rational, fearful, angry, and lustful. And exactly according to this pattern, it is possible to extract the types of states (virtuous, angry, and domineering, satanic and seductive, lustful, and bestial) and a combination of the three ignorant powers together. In this way, based on the stated division of Imam's existential powers of man, it is possible to reach different moments and periods of his political discourse, including the theory of types of states, types of rulers, and politics in his political thought.
Keywords
Imam Khomeini
Soul Powers
State
Political Thought
Anthropology
Subjects
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State Studies of Contemporary Iran
Volume 11, Issue 3 - Serial Number 3
autumn 2025
Autumn 2025
Pages 41-60

  • Receive Date 07 March 2025
  • Revise Date 16 June 2025
  • Accept Date 17 June 2025
  • Publish Date 23 September 2025