The Sociological Legitimacy of the Islamic Republic of Iran within the framework of Identity Policy

Identity Policy, with a focus on antagonism toward the West and the United States, is one of the most important sociological sources of legitimacy in the Islamic Republic of Iran. This policy is not only the result of the political management of this system, but also is the product of a historical process that began with the delegitimization of the Pahlavi regime, followed by the establishment of the Islamic Republic. This article examines the historical context of the formation of Identity Policy based on conflict with the west and its impact on creating political legitimacy in the Islamic Republic. Findings of the research indicate that within the framework of Identity Policy, the Islamic system has aligned its ideological interests with the historical experiences of the Iranian society in relation to foreign authoritarian interventions, then created a legitimizing policy that, beyond jurisprudential, philosophical and legal reasons, has been able to attract a wide range of society. This result negates some comments about one-sided legitimization by ideological systems. The research is conducted with a qualitative and historical approach, by using David Beetham's analytical model of political legitimacy.