Iran : Wilayat al Faqih System of Governance and Public Policymaking

Khomeini's revolution resulted in establishing a unique system of governance, an Islamic Republic that governs on the basis of Wilavat al Faqih (guardian of the jurist) ideology. A religion-political ideology transferred as a system of governance: Wilayat al Faqih system of governance. This thesis, tried to investigate the challenges that public policy in Iran is facing under Wilayat al Faqih system of governance. Also, to discuss the research main question, which is: Does Wilayat al Faqih system of governance start to disintegrate from the Islamic Republic of Iran? The question is raised because of the series of problems that are challenging the authority of the Supreme Leader resulted in a “power struggle” between the supreme leader (representative of the Wilayat al Faqih institution) and the president (representative of the Republican institution) inside the system of governance. Such power struggle can be noted in the making and implementation of public policy in Iran. In order to investigate the research question, a qualitative method based on an institutional analysis approach together with the use of elite theory has been applied over two case studies: 1. Domestic politics from former president Mohammad Khatami to former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, (NGOs policies), 2. Foreign policy from Khatami to Ahmadinejad (Iran regional role, and Iran- U.S relations). The thesis investigated the sixteen years of Iran's Wilayat al Fagih System of Governance, which is from the rise of the reformists, Mohammad Khatami's presidency until the so-called Neo-conservative Mahmoud Ahmadinejad' presidency (1997-2013). The thesis tried to shed light on the challenges that are facing public policies, which serve as a challenge for both the regime and the ideology of Wilayat al Faqih itself. It also, discussed the causes behind the Iranian president's limited power in formulating public policy, which resulted in contradictory roles between the leaders in formulating public policies, which impacted Iranian public policies. Therefore, such power struggle between the president and the supreme leader over policymaking is a struggle not only a struggle of power but also, a struggle between the Wilayat al Faqih institution and the Republican institution inside the system of governance. Thus, it would serve as a threat to the legitimacy of Wilayat al Faqih system of governance. The thesis concluded that public policymaking and implementation are being impacted not only by the ideology of Wilayat al Faqih as a regime ideology, but also as a system of governance.