A Comparative Study of the Characteristics of Political Power in Modern Governments and Those of the Islamic Republic of Iran

Political sociologists have always tried to define power and to determine the borders between society and political organization of the government. Historical events and political changes in the countries, specially after the appearance of modern states, have played a great role in the creation and change of the definition of power and its instances. Hence, the conceptual changes of power can be easily tracked from the social contract of Hobbes to Foucault's power knowledge and discourse. This research is aimed at reviewing the concept of power and its effects on modern government characteristics in modern political sociology and comparing it with the traits of power in the Islamic Republic system. while considering the shared points between the two, its differences will be considered as well.