Examining the Role of the Public Sphere and Civil Society in the Political Development of Contemporary Iran

Abstract

Concepts such as the public sphere, civil society, and political development are among the significant topics that have attracted the attention of scholars and researchers in the field of social sciences in recent decades. The public sphere serves as a space for the free and equal participation of all citizens in dialogue within a democratic society, closely overlapping with civil society. When strengthened and integrated, the public sphere can provide the practical framework for the organized activities of political institutions, political parties, and voluntary associations independent of the state. Within an open and critical society with an emancipatory nature, it can facilitate the realization of political freedoms and the fundamental rights of citizens. The formation and evolution of the public sphere and civil society in different historical periods, and their role in the political development of contemporary Iran, have been marked by significant fluctuations. A pivotal moment in their emergence and organization in the country's modern history was during the Constitutional Revolution. However, throughout the tumultuous reigns of the first and second Pahlavi dynasties, despite the relative increase in literacy, the emergence of new middle classes, and the rise of political groupings with diverse ideological orientations, the dominance of a unilateral political structure—prioritizing Western modernity and economic and social modernization—impeded their success. The ensuing struggles and confrontations culminated in the Islamic Revolution of 1979. Ultimately, despite the emergence of diverse networks of political and social groups in the decades following the revolution, civil society in Iran has yet to develop into a dynamic and influential social force. This article aims to determine the levels of relationship between the public sphere and civil society in relation to political development. The present study employs a descriptive-analytical approach, utilizing documentary and library-based data collection methods. The research background and theoretical foundations indicate a close interrelation between the public sphere, civil society, and political development. In other words, the findings suggest that factors such as the presence of an open political environment, a critical society engaged in free dialogue, independent institutions separate from the state, voluntary associations, and the protection of private spheres—by attributing meaning to the fundamental rights of citizens—impact political development. Practical engagement with these indicators can pave the way for the advancement of political development in Iran.