Islamic Politics Research

Islamic Politics Research

The Nature and Essence of the Theory of Religious Democracy in the Political Thought of Ayatollah Khamenei

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
mahdi saeidi 1
Akbar Ashrafi 2
Mohammad Baqer Khoramshad 3
1 PhD student in Political Science, Department of Political Science, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
2 Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
3 Professor of Political Science Department, Faculty of Law and Political Science, Allameh Tabatabaei University, Visiting Professor, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
10.22034/ipr.2025.547614.2308
Abstract
Religious democracy represents an endeavor to address the question of the people's role in religious governments. Numerous thinkers have expressed their views on this matter, each presenting their own model. Among them is Ayatollah Khamenei. The objective of this research is to elucidate the nature and provide a depiction of the essence of the theory of religious democracy within the Islamic political sphere, based on the thought of Ayatollah Khamenei. The main research question is: "How are the religiosity (being religious) and the democracy (being democratic) determined within the theory of religious democracy according to Ayatollah Khamenei?"

In this study, data was collected through documentary methods and analyzed using a descriptive-analytical approach.

The research findings indicate that an emphasis on propositions such as: the acceptance of obedience to divine commands, belief in the principle of the sovereignty of religion, the rooting of democracy in divine guardianship (Velayat-e Elahi), the derivation of the legitimacy of elections from within religion, and the validity of the people's vote stemming from the human dignity emphasized by religion, are all manifestations of the "religiosity" of religious democracy. Furthermore, an emphasis on propositions such as: the people being the true and principal masters of the country's affairs, the entrustment of social responsibilities to all people, the people's role and right in forming the Islamic government, and the people being the basis of legitimacy, are considered manifestations of the "democratic" nature of the theory of religious democracy.
Keywords
Democracy
Religious Democracy
Islamic Politics
Ayatollah Khamenei
Islamic Republic
Subjects
Quran.
Nahj al-Balagha.
Statements of Ayatollah Khamenei, available at https://farsi.khamenei.ir/.
Messages of Ayatollah Khamenei, available at https://farsi.khamenei.ir/.
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Islamic Politics Research
Volume 13, Issue 27 - Serial Number 27
September 2025
Pages 227-255

  • Receive Date 16 September 2025
  • Accept Date 25 October 2025