Strategic Studies Quarterly

Abstract Election mechanism is a basic requirement of a democratic system. It is important not only for its role in founding a democratic society but also it has impact on the functions of the system in several aspects including political, economic and social affairs. National security as one of the important aspects of political affairs is not excluded from influence of the election mechanism. Therefore the paper illustrates the impacts of election mechanism on national security using system theories, historical studies and quantitative methods. Establishing security-building functions of election mechanisms, some case studies against and proper conditions for the realization of those functions are among other topics touched in this paper. This study shows that the implementation of the said functions is subject to a set of requirements namely the adoption of an appropriate election mechanism, filling the ethnic, race and religious gaps in multi- sector societies, promotion of cultural participation, lessening the influence of great powers and finally overcoming challenges of economic underdevelopment.  

Abstract The effect of the eleventh presidential elections on the political stability of Iran is discussed in this essay. To find the answer, at first, the effect of this election is analyzed based on the relative deprivation theory. Then, the most prominent programs and promises of this government are mentioned as independent variants. Studies showed that this mentioned election has brought a favorable but an unstable and short- time condition for the political stability of the country. This status can be prolonged by the government’s attention to the rule of law, control of corruption, government effectiveness, developing private sector, and cost effectiveness.