Identity Policymaking in the Foundational Documents of the Islamic Republic of Iran

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Article

Author

University of tehran

Abstract

Identity, as a socio-historical and political construct, functions within the Islamic Republic of Iran not merely as a cultural or individual category, but as a foundational axis for the symbolic order and political legitimacy. This study, employing a discourse-oriented approach and drawing on theories of social identity and cultural constructivism, analyzes identity policymaking across four key foundational documents of the Islamic Republic: the Constitution, the Development Plans, the Twenty-Year Vision Document, and the Principles of Cultural Policy. The findings reveal that identity policymaking in these documents is predominantly structured around the triad of religion, nationality, and modernity, institutionalized through immutable principles, operational indicators, and cultural symbols. While the Constitution provides a hard-structured mechanism for safeguarding the official identity by establishing fundamental principles, the Development Plans reflect a hybrid identity by integrating Islamic, technological, and indigenous layers. Cultural documents, meanwhile, emphasize the role of institutions such as education and media in the reproduction of identity.

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Iranian Journal of Public Policy

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 13 November 2025

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