Foundational Requirements for Cultural Governance in the Islamic Republic of Iran: Insights from the Ayatollah Khamenei

Akbari Aghdam, Sadegh; Bagheri, Shahla; Zahed Zahedani, Seyed Saeid

doi:10.22059/jstmt.2025.388641.1766

Foundational Requirements for Cultural Governance in the Islamic Republic of Iran: Insights from the Ayatollah Khamenei

Document Type : Research Article / Original Article

Authors

Sadegh Akbari Aghdam ¹

Shahla Bagheri ²

Seyed Saeid Zahed Zahedani ³

¹ PhD Student in Cultural Policy, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran.

² Professor of Sociology, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran.

³ Associate Professor of Socioloigy, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran.

10.22059/jstmt.2025.388641.1766

Abstract

This study examines the foundational requirements for cultural governance in the Islamic Republic of Iran from the perspective of Ayatollah Khamenei. Employing a qualitative approach, the research utilizes thematic analysis of the Supreme Leader’s statements on culture and cultural governance. The purposively selected corpus includes texts and speeches addressing cultural issues, governance, and related concepts. Findings indicate that the cornerstone of Iran’s cultural governance model is the popularization of Islamic culture, structured around two principal components: Islamic guidance of culture and public participation in cultural affairs. Five enabling requirements underpin this model: (1) optimal attitudinal and performance indicators, (2) cultural management, (3) cultural engineering, (4) cultural discourse-making, and (5) institutionalization of divine governance indicators, which encompass Islam-centered, people-centered, culture-centered, Imam-centered, law-abiding, justice-oriented, awareness-driven, responsible, unity-promoting, and dignified governance. The ultimate outcome is the personal and social elevation of individuals and society. This framework is recommended as a guiding macro-structure for cultural policymaking, contributing to the advancement of a new Islamic civilization.

Keywords

Culture

Cultural Governance

Ayatollah Khamenei

Thematic Analysis

Subjects

Rereading and interpreting the ideas of leading Muslim thinkers

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