Strategic Studies Quarterly

Abstract    The legal system of elections in Iran is based on the principles of the Constitution, legal institutions and electoral practices. These three sources are parallel and the legal institutions are in line with the Constitution and the practices are in line with the domestic laws. Assessment of the stability and value of the legal system of election is dependent on the association with the said sources; however, this connection cannot be measured with legal criteria. According to the Constitution, the legitimacy of officials and the validity of the affairs are driven from the elections. Legal system of elections cannot be stabilized on the basis of domestic laws, because accumulation of the laws with regard to the elections and their continuous changes in the aftermath of the Revolution together with the defects have led the legal system of elections to a phase of practice and error.  Furthermore, the electoral practices and understandings of the domestic laws cannot contribute to the needed stability of the legal system of elections.  

Abstract The analysis of elections mainly focuses on the political acts and behaviors of the parties as well as interest groups of a society and describes the central reference of political fractions (for instants reformists or conservatives) that try to defeat the competing political wings. Using documentary method, the paper attempts to study the sociological aspect of the electoral behavior.  According to this approach, the inspiring sources of participation in the elections are social, environmental, economic and cultural conditions of the voters; as there exists a direct relationship between the social conditions of the voters and their political orientation. Therefore, the author studies the electoral behavior of the voters for the parliamentary elections in Iran and to this end he enjoys three models of political sociology, political economy and political psychology.

Abstract   This essay is mainly pursues to analyze Iranian elections to explain the fact that, in addition to positive and security-building functions of elections in Iran, there are also election-related factors that prepare ground for different levels of political instability, social crisis and security challenges in the country. Those above mentioned factors are rooted in interactions between three electoral actors: 1) governmental administrative and monitoring institutions; 2) competition pattern of political parties and groups; and 3) electoral behavior of public and social groups. Applying David Sanders' approach, this essay explores security-political consequences and challenges of people's electoral behavior and pattern of electoral competition among political parties and groups on political instability indicators (political regime and socio-political solidarity).According to findings of our research, and based on framework of electoral actors interaction pattern, there have been a circle of security situation in Iranian elections consisting of a threefold pattern: 1) fairly calm elections; 2) challenging elections; and 3) electoral crisis. Considering the vulnerabilities of election system in Iran, it seems that electoral behavior pattern of actors tends to be more challenging and destabilizing.  

Abstract   The paper intends to answer the question that how the elections can promote the international status and strength of a government. In this way, the following four elements have been discussed with special attention: democratic peace, significance of international legitimacy, public diplomacy and the principle of clean tablet. Free elections, indeed is a part of external interactions of governments, as they send special signals and connotations to other governments and cause their proper reaction. The elections also project democratic norms as well as providing proper bed for policy change which in turn can renovate the international reputation of governments. The Islamic Republic of Iran has already experienced these impacts in particular with respect to the presidential elections. Having said that, the author argues while the international situation for our country had been tense, the elections led to the re-enhancement of the country’s reputation.