Political Thought
Ehsan Kazemi; Morteza Kazemi
Abstract
Extended AbstractIntroduction Any attempt to review the history of philosophical thought inevitably begins with ancient Greece. As the cradle of political thought, ancient Greece holds an influential position in the history of political thought. Thus, examining political thought in ancient Greece remains ...
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Extended AbstractIntroduction Any attempt to review the history of philosophical thought inevitably begins with ancient Greece. As the cradle of political thought, ancient Greece holds an influential position in the history of political thought. Thus, examining political thought in ancient Greece remains a compelling area of study for historians of political thought. A critical aspect of ancient Greek political thought is its evolution and the elements that influenced its development. Historians of political thought argue that various elements—such as governance systems, culture, and geography—served as key drivers in shaping political thought in ancient Greece. Understanding these elements provides deeper insight not only into ancient Greek political thinking but also into the broader development of Western political thought. In this respect, the present study aimed to analyze the role and significance of the discourse on the polis in the evolution of political thought in ancient Greece. The central question guiding this research is: What influence did the emergence of the polis have on the foundations of thought in ancient Greece? The research is based on the hypothesis that the rise of the polis as a dominant discourse not only influenced daily political relations in ancient Greece but also played a decisive role in the development of political thought as a distinct field of knowledge. In other words, political thought, as a form of historical knowledge, evolved according to the norms of discourse formation and transformation.Materials and MethodsThe current study employed discourse analysis as the methodological approach to explore the underlying logic behind the formation of political thought in ancient Greece.Results and DiscussionAccording to the research methodology, the prevailing discourse of each era significantly shapes its modes of thought. In the monarchical discourse, mythical thinking—shaped by dominant values andnorms—laid the foundation for a specific form of thought known as mythical thought. This discourse constructed methods and models of thinking that would reproduce the dominant discourse. With the transition from the monarchical discourse to the discourse on the polis, it was not only the political order that underwent change but also the entirety of Greek social and political life. Beyond shifts in lifestyle and living models, a new mode of thinking emerged within the polis discourse. This new paradigm marked a shift from mythical to rational thought, emphasizing rationality over instinctual or national aspects of the human. This transformation reshaped the nature of relations between political institutions. As a result, the foundation of political legitimacy and stability moved away from metaphysical or mythical justifications toward an earthly, citizen-centered foundation.ConclusionThis research examined the discourse on the polis in contrast with the discourse of monarchy, outlining several transitional stages from the monarchy to the polis. The first stage involved the crisis and eventual decline of the hegemonic monarchical discourse. The second stage marked the emergence and consolidation of the polis as the new dominant discourse. The third and final stage was characterized by the structuring of the discursive elements of political thought around a central sign, namely the polis itself. With the transition from the discourse of monarchy to that of the polis or city-state, not only did the political order change, but the entire social and political life of the Greeks was transformed. Beyond mere biological changes, a new mode of thinking emerged within the discourse of the polis. In thisA new way of thinking, rational thought gradually replaced mythical thinking, and rationalism led to the emergence of political thought.
Political Sociology
Nejat Mohammadifar; Ehsan Kazemi
Abstract
Imagining government as a powerful and all-encompassing institution which effectively controls a geopolitical area has affected the basic role of this institution in the development discourse. Because the government is considered as the main basis of political, economic and social order, its representative ...
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Imagining government as a powerful and all-encompassing institution which effectively controls a geopolitical area has affected the basic role of this institution in the development discourse. Because the government is considered as the main basis of political, economic and social order, its representative role is significant. Today, many thinkers and international organizations believe that the government still plays an essential role in advancing the process of development and poverty reduction but the problem is that always some governments have not been able or willing to play the expected roles. Many governments, due to various social, political, economic and structural reasons do not have the ability and capacities necessary for carring out development and poverty reduction, or basically do not show much political desire and will in this regard. Since the 1990s, those states that their governments lack the necessary ability to perform normal functions and lead their society to development have been known as fragile states. This is a concept that is more related to developing countries. On the basis of this, the main question of the current research is "what are the criteria for evaluating the capacity and willingness of fragile states in planning for development and poverty reduction?" The research method used in this research is systematic review and information are collected using library tools and internet resources. The theoretical framework of the research is based on Torres and Anderson (2004). From the point of view of Torres and Anderson, the development capacities of a government include the foundations of government authority, administrative capacity and efficiency, economic efficiency and the effective exercise of political power. A government that lacks these capacities or has these features just to a limited extent will lose its capacity and ability to advance development and reduce poverty to a large extent. In addition, from thier point of view, along with these features, the political will for development and poverty reduction must exist at the top of the government. In other word there should be an explicit political statement that shows the commitment and desire of a government to advance development and poverty reduction programs. As well, in this direction, attention should be paid to the existence of strategies, tools and motivations for implementation, so that services are provided in the best possible way and has the character of inclusiveness. Finally, Torres and Anderson (2004) present a fourfold typology of governments (weak willingness and capacity governments, strong willingness and weak capacity governments, strong willingness and capacity governments, and weak willingness and strong capacity governments) that can be used to identify the criteria for evaluating the capacity of fragile states in development planning and poverty reduction. The results of the research findings show that governments in fragile states could have a proper planning in order to improve development capacities and reduce poverty by strengthening the foundations of authority, effective exercise of political power, efficiency in macroeconomic management, administrative capacity for implementation, along with the political commitment to reduce poverty and provide comprehensive services. Based on this, the governments that have weak political desire and will, even if they have the necessary capacities for development and poverty reduction, will not succeed. Similarly, those states that have a strong political desire and will but lack the necessary capacities, will not be successful. In transition countries, where governments are usually more fragile, rapid changes may lead to instability. Therefore, it should be emphasized on gradual reforms and more accountability of governments in these countries. As the Iraq experience clearly shows, dramatic changes—including a sudden move toward fully competitive elections—in countries with weak cohesion, fragile institutions, and a history of intergroup hostility can be highly explosive and undermine the entire reform agenda. So, it is better to give priority to solidarity and security and gradually carry out broader reforms in the field of development and poverty reduction so that do not explicitly threaten the status quo. Limits such as increasing transparency and carrying out budgeting methods, strengthening non-governmental organizations, creating a strong civil society, strengthening public cohesion and trust, increasing income and reducing unemployment, improving the rule of law and the government's capacity to judge and implement it can improve relations between governments and people and provide the basis for other actions. It seems that the biggest determining factors eventually are the government, its leadership, policies and institutions; This does not mean ignoring the role of the society as sustainable development requires roles of both government and society. The development-seeking government and the development-seeking society, with their desire and high capacities for development, are the key to success in the advancing development and poverty reduction.
