Reformism and Political Participation in Iran

Abstract

Chapter 1 introduces the topic and the contention of this book. Is political participation possible in the Islamic Republic, and if so, to what extent? What type of political participation is permitted? This chapter elucidates the construction of the argument that underpins this book: that political participation, encouraged by the reformist governments (1997–2005) with the goal of renewing state legitimacy and controlling autonomous activism, eventually led to the development of independent citizens, critical of the state and its engineered participation. Despite being carried out by a minority, the political work of such independent activists was not marginal: without them, in fact, the Green Movement of 2009 would have not taken shape. This chapter discusses theories of democratisation and authoritarian resilience, along with Foucault’s governmentality, to contextualise this book’s approach to the study of reformism. This book contributes to the debate about the implications of top-down reforms for social reproduction, offering an innovative interpretation of reformism and an original analysis of social movements from a political science perspective.