Iranian Journal of Public Policy

Iranian Journal of Public Policy

Identity-Policy Linkage: A Theoretical and Practical Framework for Targeted Government Intervention

Document Type : Review Article

Authors
Hasan Danaeifard 1
Mehdi Khosravi 2
Hossein Babaei Mojard 3
Seyed Hossein Kazemi 4
1 Professor of Public administration, Faculty of Management and Economics, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
2 Ph.d. of Public Administration, Faculty of Management and Economics, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
3 Assistant Professor of Public Administration, Research Institute for Islamic Culture and Thought, Tehran, Iran
4 Assistant Professor of Public Administration, Faculty of Management and Economics, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
10.22059/jppolicy.2026.107871
Abstract
Identity-based policymaking, by challenging the fundamental assumption of the “homogeneous citizen” in the design of public policies, emphasizes the determining role of the latent identity heterogeneity of stakeholders. This article argues, by proposing the central concept of “identity-instrument fit,” that the congruence of the motivational logic of different identities with the logic of the effectiveness of policy instruments is a necessary condition for achieving behavioral effectiveness and strengthening the symbolic legitimacy of policies. By using a mixed methodology (latent class analysis and alignment matrix) and examining practical examples in the areas of housing, transportation, and agriculture, it is shown that designing combined and targeted packages of t instruments, appropriate to the identified identity profiles, while increasing efficiency and achieving distributive justice, reduces risks such as identity essentialism and social polarization. This framework offers a fundamental rethinking of the understanding of target groups and the symbolic function of policies.
Keywords
Identity-based Policymaking
Identity-Instrument Fit
Symbolic Legitimacy
Identity Reproduction
Policy Design
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Iranian Journal of Public Policy
Volume 12, Issue 2
Spring 2026
Pages 412-424