Participation of Iranian Ethnic Groups: Case Study of Presidentail Elections

Free elections and fair competition are two aspects of democracy and also legitimacy of any political system (particulary transitional societies). The present article investigates at first the theoretical aspects of elections and its processes. Then it describes the role of ethnic groups in electoral competitions of those societies. Finally it discusses the iranian activities aiming transition to democracy and their historical experiences. In general, the author of the article categorizes three different approaches towards political participation: "monologists", "dialoguists", and "opportunists" assuming non of two faeets. He also notices to 9 rounds of presidential elections in analysing the degree of participation in two provinces (Kurdistan and Baluchistan).