Sociology of Development and National Discourse

Abstract

This article is the result of a collaboration between the University of Tehran and Aalborg University in Denmark, aimed at a better understanding of the literature on national development. Particularly in recent years, the literature on development in Iranian society has become contentious and misunderstood, and its confusion in contemporary history suggests that development is more the result of disciplined and systematic interaction of collective intelligence than of intellectual fervor. Therefore, it is hoped that by focusing more on the issue of development, appropriate foundations for a better understanding of it can be provided. This research, which employs the thematic method—a qualitative approach based on study and semi-structured interviews—includes interviews with twelve domestic elites from university professors and experienced practitioners in the country. It also results from a year and a half of study and collaboration with the Faculties of Communication Science, Sociology, and Business at Aalborg University. The focus of this research is on the "sociology of national development" and the role of "discourse" in the formation of development theories. The outcome is the presentation of two models: firstly, a proposal on the appropriate structure and social relationships on which development should be based, and secondly, the suggestion of "discursive models" to achieve collective rationality and identity.