Populism in Iran: A Case of Islamic Populism
The article examines the particular configuration of populism in the Islamic Republic of Iran and argues that it should be conceptualized as a distinctive form of Islamic populism. By combining historical contextualization, theoretical discussion, and engagement with recent scholarship, the study demonstrates that Iranian revolutionary discourse, post-revolutionary political practice, and contemporary state rhetoric have produced a populist formation shaped by the country’s religious and ideological foundations. In contrast to approaches that interpret Iranian populism merely through the framework of conventional anti-elitism, the Iranian case reflects significant adaptations rooted in Shiʿi symbolic narratives, theocratic state structures, and persistent opposition to foreign domination. The article argues that populism in Iran emerged through the fusion of Shiʿi theological motifs, anti-elite mobilization, and socio-economic appeals. While these features share some affinities with broader theories of populism, they also diverge from dominant Western models in important ways. Methodologically, the study relies on library-based research and autoethnography.
Keywords: Iran, Islamic Populism, Iranian Populism, Islamic Revolution, Populism.
