The Components of Consensus-Building in the Political Thought of Ayatollah Khamenei
Within a theoretical framework, some of the main models of consensus-building include consultation, dialogue, and election. The significance of such methods, which are rooted in Islamic teachings, in Ayatollah Khamenei’s political thought, is reflected in his statements.
Consultation and Its Role in Consensus-Building in Ayatollah Khamenei’s Political Thought
Generally, Ayatollah Khamenei, like Imam Khomeini, emphasizes on consultation as a religious percept demanding people and officials to act upon this Islamic principle in various affairs.
In his view, the reason for rapid and unprecedented progress the Muslims made during the early days of Islam lies with consultation without which man cannot find the right path. Referring to the issue of religious democracy in Imam Khomeini’s view, Ayatollah Khamenei believes that it is rooted in and derived from religious teachings in general and divine command to make consultation in particular.
In his perspective, the establishment of the Islamic Councils in cities and villages reflects the position of thought and consultation in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Encouraging people to use the consultation, Ayatollah Khamenei believes that whereas taking other people’s views into account would lead to reaching the consensus and unity in society, selfishness and stubbornness will hinder the progress of the society and reaching a consensus.
Admiring the act of sharing thoughts and views he states: “By employing reason and consultation and preserving and strengthening the unity that exists in society, we will keep moving forward on the path of progress and dignity.”
Ayatollah Khamenei believes that consultation would result in valuable and lasting outcomes because it brings about public consensus. According to him, “many souls have been sacrificed for the realization of a parliament that employs social wisdom and the spirit of consultation in developing the country, organizing the interests of the nation and achieving the Islamic virtues.”
Ayatollah Khamenei, like Imam Khomeini, considers consultation an Islamic principle and hence emphasizes its implementation. In his view, consultation, as one of the ways to build consensus, plays a role in the progress of Muslims. Also, the theory of religious democracy reflects the significance of consultation in Islam. By studying his statements, one can understand the influence of consultation on consensus-building, convergence, development of the country and the promotion of the Islamic system.
Dialogue, Reasoning and Conflict of Opinions and Their Roles in Consensus-Building in Ayatollah Khamenei’s Political Thought
According to Ayatollah Khamenei, Islam favours dialogue; therefore, the officials and the people are advised and encouraged to hold dialogue and discussions and reach a consensus. Referring to the verse “listen to the Word, then follow the best of it,” he calls for listening to different arguments, developing a sense of tolerance in the face of opposing views, and avoiding stubbornness.
Ayatollah Khamenei, by inviting and advising the heads of the three branches of government as well as the factions to hold dialogue, introduces it as a way to reach a common point in cases of disagreement. He not only favours holding dialogue regarding the issue of the currents in the country but also considers dialogue and interaction as a necessary and effective factor in resolving ambiguities and achieving understanding among the nations and governments.
For Ayatollah Khamenei, freedom of “thought, pen, and expression” is one of the main goals of the Islamic Revolution and this freedom will not be implemented except through holding free dialogue. According to him, Hajj should be a symbol of unity, understanding, dialogue, and convergence of Muslims with each other. Ayatollah Khamenei sees dialogue as a way to find the right path and a necessary and natural phenomenon. He also considers dialogue as a way for resolving differences, not creating them or hindering the process of reaching the consensus and solidarity in society. In his view, elections are an arena through which different groups can hold dialogue.
Moreover, Ayatollah Khamenei regards reasoning as one of the main factors in the progress of Islam. By examining Ayatollah Khamenei’s remarks, one can understand that the strategic principle of strengthening convergence is one of the most central principles he emphasizes. His emphasis on the need to maintain cohesion and convergence is not limited to a particular stratum; therefore, the masses of people, officials of the system and political activists as well as security-military forces, etc. are all included. Ayatollah Khamenei, like Imam Khomeini, pays attention to dialogue and the features of a healthy and constructive dialogue to lay the ground for building consensus. Emphasizing the importance of dialogue in Islam, he considers freedom of “thought, pen and expression” in the field of dialogue as a means by which disputes will be resolved, common ground will be found in cases of disagreement, and also the consensus will be achieved.
Free and Equal Participation (Elections) and Its Role in Consensus-Building in Ayatollah Khamenei’s Political Thought
The election has an important place in Ayatollah Khamenei’s political thought. In his speeches, he stated that the Islamic Republic of Iran is proud of holding elections since the beginning of its establishment. Also, while inviting various groups to participate in the elections and emphasizing the importance of people’s participation, he addresses various aspects of people’s participation and elections. Accordingly, he believes that the elections strengthen the foundations of the Revolution, support the system, ensure national security, neutralize enemy threats, manifest the reliance of the government on people, serve both as a right and duty of the nation, lead to religious democracy, bring about a sense of duty regarding the future of the country and are rooted in people’s awareness and insight.
Ayatollah Khamenei is of the opinion that thanks to the real democracy existing under the Islamic system, a fertile ground has been provided for the participation of people from all walks of life. Due to the importance of participation, Ayatollah Khamenei named the year 2005 the “Year of National Solidarity and Public Participation.” He advises people to preserve national unity introducing the cooperation of people and officials as a factor that contributes to the progress of the country and fulfillment of its lofty goals. In his perspective, all people have an equal right to choose the country’s officials. In his view, national solidarity, convergence and clinging to divine rope constitute the Iranian nation’s most effective weapon. Moreover, Ayatollah Khamenei describes public participation as a basic principle that is vital to the progress and preservation of the system. Therefore, he calls for majority participation because the decline of people’s participation would question the legitimacy of the system.
According to him, “our nation should pay more attention to unity and learn tolerance.” Ayatollah Khamenei describes public participation as a huge investment that plays a vital role in the destiny of the people.
Examples of Consensus-Building in the Practical Life of Ayatollah Khamenei
Examples of Consultation and Its Role in Consensus-Building in the Practical Life of Ayatollah Khamenei
Emphasizing making consultation in the cases of decision-making, Ayatollah Khamenei, like Imam Khomeini, considers consultation to be an Islamic principle. In the following, some evidence of building consensus through consultation in his actions and remarks will be mentioned.
Consensus-Building in Political Affairs
When disputes were raised over the issue of investigating the institutions affiliated with the office of the Leader, the Speaker of the Parliament asked Ayatollah Khamenei to permit doing so. Therefore, Ayatollah Khamenei expressed his approval and designated this duty, which in reality is the responsibility of the Leader, to the Expediency Discernment Council, thereby preventing the extremists from exciting sedition. Also, Iran’s “Twenty-Year Vision Document” has been approved after considering various views and making consultations. Holding nuclear negotiations is also one of the cases in which Ayatollah Khamenei has accepted the advisory opinion as well as the views of the officials. According to him, the Islamic government features in developing an organized collaboration with the elites and intellectuals, even the ones who hold different views.
Consensus-Building in Other Affairs
When it comes to formulating and developing the Islamic-Iranian Paradigm of Progress, Ayatollah Khamenei uses the opinions of elites and experts calling for the engagement of all scientific centers, elites, and intellectuals to deeply study various aspects of the Document and provide advisory opinions. In addition, he assigned the Center of Islamic-Iranian Paradigm of Progress the responsibility of using the consultation.
Examples of Dialogue, Reasoning and Conflict of Opinions and Their Roles in Consensus-Building in the Practical Life of Ayatollah Khamenei
On various occasions, Ayatollah Khamenei has sought to build a consensus by talking to various personalities, officials and groups. In the following, we will mention some evidence in this regard.
Consensus-Building in Political Affairs
In order to build a consensus, Ayatollah Khamenei has held dialogues with various factions and parties inviting them to create unity and convergence. In meetings with all officials, he recited a verse of the Holy Quran and stated that dialogue and integrity lie at the root of holding various meetings. When the enemy was trying to create divisions and tensions in the country, he made great efforts to promote harmony among political parties of the system. In addition, while advising the officials affiliated with a certain faction to create unity and convergence, he has held dialogues with them to resolve the disagreements. The ethnic and religious motives also brought the country closer to crisis; therefore, Ayatollah Khamenei warned about this phenomenon and called for the unity of the people.
Iran’s declaration of neutrality during the First Gulf War raised factional tensions and undermined the unity of the nation. Thus, Ayatollah Khamenei, while calling for the preservation of unity and solidarity, warned the factions about division; also, the members of the parliament praised him and expressed solidarity. One of the measures taken by the Leader during the 2009 election protests was holding talks and dialogue with the opposition candidates and their representatives so that maximum inclusion, consensus and unity will be achieved.
During the Iranian nuclear energy crisis, the solutions presented by the governments raised tensions and disagreements among officials. The support offered by the Supreme Leader as well as his remarks which focused on the elimination of differences paved the way for holding negotiations. Likewise, there were disagreements between political factions, the three branches of government, etc. after the 1997 Presidential election. Hence, Ayatollah Khamenei took the necessary measures to resolve the crisis and maintain the unity of the system. Among them was advising all people and factions to avoid disagreement and calling for the rule of convergence and unity in society. On several occasions, Ayatollah Khamenei has resolved many disputes and differences between the three branches of government through dialogue and direct engagement.
Consensus-Building in Other Affairs
Ayatollah Khamenei’s emphasis on holding question-and-answer sessions, constant communication with the scientific elite, and his numerous meetings and conversations with university students and professors reflect the importance of scientific progress as well as consensus and convergence in his view. Another example in this regard is the strengthening of the convergence of the Armed Forces. After accepting the 598 Resolution, the rumours about disbanding the Army or merging it with the IRGC further intensified the rift between these two influential forces. This issue could have jeopardized the Islamic system and created divisions among the revolutionary forces and military institutions. Therefore, Ayatollah Khamenei, while emphasizing that the Army and the IRGC should continue working independently, called for strengthening the spirit of understanding and convergence and putting aside pessimism regarding these two military forces.
Examples of Free and Equal Participation (Elections) and Its Role in Consensus-Building in Ayatollah Khamenei’s Practical Life
By studying the practical political life of Ayatollah Khamenei, one can argue that elections have a special place in his view as a way to reach consensus. In the following, some evidence in this regard will be mentioned.
Consensus-Building in Political Affairs
It should be noted that Ayatollah Khamenei called for the participation of all groups in the elections including the ninth Presidential election. In the ninth Presidential election, Ayatollah Khamenei ruled that some candidates, who had been rejected, meet the necessary qualifications to run for this post. This action brought about convergence, consensus and prevented division. Also, issuing the General Policies on Elections to the heads of the three branches of government shows Ayatollah Khamenei’s emphasis on free elections and participation. “Safeguarding individuals’ freedom of choice...” is stated in Article 15 of this Document.
Reference: Pazhuheshnameh-ye Enqelab-e Eslami [A Quarterly Academic-Research Journal on Islamic Revolution]. Volume 9, Number 32, Fall 2019, Pages 113-136
Archive of Ayatollah Khamenei
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