An investigation into cultural policymaking of the Islamic Republic of Iran (Foundations, patterns, model)

The nature of the Islamic Republic of Iran is based on a soft power called culture, and its cultural policymaking is based on foundations of Islamic culture. Cultural policymaking of the Islamic Republic of Iran can be analyzed in macro and micro perspectives. Supreme Council for Cultural Revolution and Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance are the main entities dealing with macro and micro perspectives, respectively. The study was carried out by a descriptive analytical method. The results of the present study showed that cultural policymaking of the Islamic Republic of Iran has taken different forms in different circumstances. In the beginning of the Islamic revolution, there was no systematic policymaking, and policymaking would take place though an ideal approach, and the government had an executive role in so doing. After the imposed war; however, cultural policymaking became systematic and took place with a developmental and realistic perspective, and the government’s role changed from being executive to supportive and regulatory. With regard to the subcultures, cultural policymaking pattern of the Islamic Republic of Iran is unity in cultural diversity, and its model is a local one which has more similarity with balanced policymaking model.