Matin Research Journal

Matin Research Journal

The Non-Discourseization of the Concept of Development in Iran after the Islamic Revolution: A Comparison of Three Competing Discourses

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Mansour Ansari
Mohammad Mahmoodikia
Assistant Professor, Political Thought in Islam, The Research Institute of Imam Khomeini and Islamic Revolution, Tehran, Iran.
10.22034/matin.2025.493880.2324
Abstract
Despite more than four decades passing since the victory of the Islamic Revolution, the concept of "development," as one of the most pivotal concepts of collective life, has not yet become a stable and fixed signifier, and extensive discursive conflicts continue to surround it. Within the political and intellectual sphere of the ruling establishment, at least three distinct discourses regarding what is commonly called "development" are identifiable: developmentalist, political messianism, and progress-oriented.
Inspired by Jürgen Habermas's conceptual framework, particularly the concept of "discursivization," this research investigates this issue. The main research question is: "What is the relationship of development with the three dominant discourses in post-revolutionary Iranian governments?"
To answer this question, the method of discourse analysis has been employed, and the required data have been collected through the study of available documents and written sources, as well as a review of press archives.
The key finding of the research indicates that the fundamental problem in understanding and realizing development in post-revolutionary Iran lies in the incomplete process of the discursivization of this concept. As long as this process does not reach its conclusion and the discursive conflicts around it do not lead to a stable consensus, the conflict and confrontation among the aforementioned three discourses will continue. These discursive conflicts will, in turn, pose a fundamental obstacle to the path of mobilizing coordinated hard and soft national resources for achieving developmental ideals.
Keywords
Development, Political Messianism, Progress, Discursivization, Jü
؛ ؛ ؛ ؛ rgen Habermas, Intersubjective Understanding and Agreement

Subjects

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Matin Research Journal
Volume 27, Issue 108
Autumn 2025
Pages 1-24