Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1
Ph.D Student in Political Sociology, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran.
2
Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran
3
Ph.D Student in International Relations, Allameh Tabatabaei University, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
Political development, as a crucial component and indicator of democratic systems, has consistently attracted significant attention. Particularly during elections, this concept serves as a means to evaluate the perspectives of electoral candidates. This study, recognizing the importance of political development within the current political framework, aims to examine the role of this component among the candidates in the 14th term of the Iranian presidential election. The research question was, "What was the position on political development among the candidates in the 14th presidential election, and what components did it include? Using the conceptual framework of political development and a quantitative descriptive-analytical content analysis method, the hypothesis proposed that political development was a topic addressed in the speeches of the six electoral candidates. The findings show that categories related to political development were mentioned a total of 109 times during five televised debates, highlighting its significance to the candidates. This frequency was categorized into three main groups: democratic political structures and political parties, with 43 occurrences; dynamic civil society and civic political culture, with 41 occurrences; and political participation and free elections, with 25 occurrences. These results, which confirm the research hypothesis, indicate that political development was a central and recurring theme in the electoral discourse. By emphasizing these components, candidates aimed to gain legitimacy and encourage greater public participation.
Keywords: Political development, Civil society, Democracy, Elections, Quantitative content analysis.
Extended Abstract
Purpose: Political development, as one of the most crucial indicators for evaluating democratic systems, has always attracted the attention of researchers in political science and sociology. This concept, defined as the increase in a political system’s capacity and efficiency in resolving individual and collective conflicts and responding to participatory demands, gains heightened significance during critical electoral moments. The presidential election, as the most prominent manifestation of democracy, serves as an arena where candidates present their views through political discourse to gain legitimacy and attract votes. In Iran, given the extensive role of the National Media (IRIB), televised debates have become the primary advertising tool and the main platform for discursive confrontation among candidates.
In Iran’s 14th presidential election, the issue of political development and its related components was a central point of contention among the six qualified candidates. Despite the significance of this topic, limited quantitative research has been conducted to thoroughly analyze how this concept was represented in the candidates’ rhetoric. Therefore, the present study aims to address this research gap by answering the key question: “What position did political development hold among the candidates in the 14th presidential election, and what components did it encompass?”. The study seeks to explain the candidates’ emphasis on indicators such as political parties, civil society, and democratic structures through a quantitative content analysis of the debates.
The theoretical foundations of this research are based on the concept of “Political Development” and its contemporary indicators. Although various definitions have been proposed by the modernization, dependency, and post-development schools, they share a common emphasis on increasing system capacity, structural differentiation, and political participation. In this study, political development is conceptualized through six main indicators:
Democratic Political Structure: It is a structure in which power derives from the will of the people, with a clear separation of powers and adherence to the rule of law.
Dynamic Civil Society: It includes intermediate institutions, the press, and groups that operate independently of the state, serving as channels for social demands (Larry Diamond).
Active Political Participation: It is rational and legal actions by citizens (such as voting and party membership) aimed at influencing political destiny.
Civic Political Culture: It includes attitudes and beliefs that form the foundation for peaceful participation and foster trust in political institutions.
Free Elections: It is a competitive and fair process for the circulation of elites and the peaceful transfer of power.
Independent and Efficient Political Parties: They serve as the driving forces of democracy, responsible for aggregating interests and training cadres.
To operationalize these concepts in the analysis process and address semantic overlap, the six indicators were consolidated into three main categories: A) Democratic Political Structure and Political Parties, B) Dynamic Civil Society and Civic Political Culture, and C) Political Participation and Free Elections.
Methodology: In terms of purpose, this research is applied, and regarding the method, it employs a quantitative content analysis of the descriptive-analytical type. The statistical population includes all five televised debates held among the six final candidates of the 14th presidential election: Masoud Pezeshkian, Saeed Jalili, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Alireza Zakani, Amir-Hossein Ghazizadeh Hashemi, and Mostafa Pourmohammadi.
- Unit of Analysis: Words and sentences.
- Data Collection Tools: Transcribed texts and recorded videos of the debates.
- Execution Method: First, all debates were reviewed, and their texts were extracted. Then, using conceptual coding, statements related to political development were identified and classified into three main categories. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistical techniques (frequency and percentage) to determine the significance and frequency of each component in the candidates’ discourse.
Findings: Findings from the content analysis of the five debates reveal that categories related to political development were mentioned a total of 109 times by the candidates. This frequency underscores the significant importance of this concept in the 2024 (1403 Solar Hijri) electoral discourse. The distribution of these components across the three main categories is as follows:
Democratic Political Structure and Political Parties (43 repetitions):
This section accounted for the highest frequency. Mr. Ghalibaf and Mr. Pezeshkian, each with nine repetitions, focused most on this area. Pourmohammadi and Ghazizadeh Hashemi followed with eight repetitions each, Zakani with five, and Jalili with four.
Key Themes: Masoud Pezeshkian emphasized a “non-partisan, expert-oriented” approach and “interaction with the world.” Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf focused on “consensus-building,” “management stability,” and “efficiency.” Mostafa Pourmohammadi explicitly advocated for a “real party system,” while Saeed Jalili highlighted “justice orientation” and “combating corruption.”
Dynamic Civil Society and Civic Political Culture (41 repetitions):
This component ranked second by a narrow margin. The frequent mention of this indicator demonstrates the candidates’ understanding of the importance of civil institutions and political culture in Iranian society. Candidates sought to connect with the social body and the middle class by addressing issues such as citizens’ rights, freedom of speech, and trade unions.
Political Participation and Free Elections (25 repetitions):
Although this component had the lowest frequency, it was presented as the primary platform for legitimization. The candidates’ emphasis on voter turnout as the solution to problems and a means to change the status quo falls into this category.
Qualitative analysis of the data reveals that the candidates’ approaches to political development varied. Some, such as Pezeshkian and Pourmohammadi, adopted a structural-institutional approach, emphasizing the reform of relations and the strengthening of political parties. Others, like Jalili and Zakani, interpreted political development primarily through the lens of efficiency and distributive justice.
Conclusion: The research results confirm the initial hypothesis that political development was one of the main pillars of the discourse of the 14th-term candidates. The emphasis on democratic structures (mentioned 43 times) and civil society (41 times) indicates that candidates deliberately moved beyond purely economic slogans, engaging with political and social issues to gain legitimacy and address the accumulated demands of society.
This study demonstrated that, despite differences in political factionalism, there was a convergence in the candidates’ rhetoric regarding the necessity of “strengthening democratic structures” and “respecting civil society.” However, differences in specific areas—such as views on foreign policy or domestic management styles—defined the boundaries of the competition. According to the results, some suggestions have been provided:
Strengthening Parties: Given the candidates’ emphasis on partisanship—especially in Pourmohammadi’s speech—it is recommended that laws governing party activities be revised to prevent the formation of temporary parties and to promote the development of sustainable, long-lasting parties.
Specialized Political Debates: It is recommended that future debates focus specifically on the topic of “Political Development and Civil Liberties,” allowing candidates to present their concrete operational plans rather than speaking in generalities.
Future Research:It is recommended to conduct Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) to explore the underlying ideological layers embedded in the vocabulary used by the candidates.
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