Post-Islamic Revolution Constitutional Complexity for Functioning of Bureaucracy in the Islamic Republic of Iran
Abstract
Iranian Constitution combines both concepts; theocracy and democracy where theocracy has been applied in the form of Khumeni’s model of vilayat-e-faqih (Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist) as defined in the preamble of constitution whereas; presidential system has been mounted as per the democratic standards. However, complexity exhibits when usage of bureaucratic authority becomes a question mark in between the directions issued by the government or vilayat-e-faqih. As Iran is a unitary state where centralized political system exists, bureaucracy should follow the directions of democratic government as per the universal standards of democracy. However, 8th section (from article 107 to article 112) of the Iranian constitution overlaps not only entire political setup of Iran by the strict jurisdiction of vilayat-e-faqih (also called Supreme Leader) but this section also projects the dogmatically authoritarian nature of Iranian political culture. Similarly, article 150 of Iranian constitution delivers mandate to Revolutionary Guards for not only observing governmental directions / orders to the bureaucracy but they also have an authority to mold bureaucratic functioning as per the directions given by the Supreme leader. Therefore, core idea of this study is to comprehensively define such constitutional complexity for functioning of bureaucracy in Iran. In addition with, this study also tries to investigate the pros and cons of 8th section and article 150 in the Iranian political system whereas; threats to the unitary state system of Iran because of such complexity are being examined in the last.
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