The effect of Rentier government on the patterns of political participation (Case study: Iran, during the Islamic Republic)

The purpose of this article is to examine the effects of rentier government on participatory patterns in Iran. The theory of Rentier government is the main approach of the article. The research method is comparative, and the technique of collecting information is documented. In this article the economic characteristics of Iran is examined. The results show that Iran has a Rentier economy that is highly dependent on the sale of oil. Rentier revenues have made Iran's governments not much dependent on tax revenues, and not dependent on the demands of the classes and social groups. The political participation of Iran has been influenced by the Rentier economy, and three participatory models have emerged in Iran, which are: (A) The pattern of antagonism that its followers are excluded from political participatory process; (B) The Political Non-Support Participation that is continually being absorbed and excluded from the mainstream of political power in Iran; (C) The Political Support Participation that is responsible for the production and reproduction of political forces who are followers of the political system; As a result of the supports by political system for the followers of this movement, they have achieved a comprehensive participatory pattern and a complete cycle of political participation.