Journal of Political Socology of  Islamic World

Journal of Political Socology of Islamic World

Comparison of the Political Thought of Imam Khomeini and Ayatollah Khamenei on the Islamic Revolution

Document Type : Research Paper

Author
Assistant Professor, Department of Social Sciences, Faculty of Governance, Shahed University
Abstract
The Islamic Revolution of Iran, as the greatest revolution in contemporary Iranian history, was the result of pure Islamic thought and the unparalleled leadership of Imam Khomeini. After the death of the founder of the revolution, the continuation of the path of the revolution was entrusted to Ayatollah Khamenei. This article, using a comparative method and qualitative content analysis, conducts a comparative study of the political thought of these two leaders on the Islamic Revolution. The main question is what principles, approaches, and interpretations Imam Khomeini and Ayatollah Khamenei used to explain the revolution, the theory of the guardianship of the jurist, the role of the people, and the relationship with the West. The findings show that Imam Khomeini's thought is based on a combination of mysticism, philosophy, theology, and jurisprudence, and he considers the revolution to be the objective realization of the "guardianship of the jurist" as an Islamic government; While Ayatollah Khamenei, with a civilizational-strategic approach, interpreted the revolution as the "emergence of Islamic civilization" and the beginning of a new horizon in the history of humanity, and emphasized the continuation, deepening, and protection of the revolution in the global arena. As a result, the thoughts of these two leaders are in line with each other; with the difference that Imam Khomeini played a role as the architect and fundamental theorist of the revolution, and Ayatollah Khamenei played a role as the continuation, deepening, and guiding the revolution in the era of globalization.
Keywords
Subjects


Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 07 November 2026

  • Receive Date 02 September 2026
  • Revise Date 06 November 2026
  • Accept Date 07 November 2026