Political Ontology and Civilizational Future-Making: The Discourse Approach of the Islamic Revolution

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Futures Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, Imam Khomeini International University, Qazvin, Iran

2 Associate Professor, Department of Futures Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, Imam Khomeini International University, Qazvin, Iran

Abstract
This study elucidates the role of political ontology in civilizational future-making from the perspective of the Islamic Revolution discourse, offering an integrative framework for realizing the future-making act in contemporary political philosophy. The theoretical structure rests on three levels: discourse, ontology, and future-making. First, applying Laclau and Mouffe’s analysis to foundational texts including Imam Khomeini, Ayatollah Khamenei, and the Second Phase Statement, “Pure Muhammadan Islam” is identified as the central signifier and meaning-making nodal point. Through chains of equivalence, this discourse redefines concepts such as humanity, justice, independence, and Progress within a Divine horizon against rival discourses. Second, utilizing Marchart’s political ontology, the political is explicated as the sphere of collective self-awareness; a realm where political action is not merely power competition but disclosing collective existence and the Ummah, marking a transition from revolutionary thinking to revolutionary being. Third, drawing on Miller and Poli’s normative futures approach, civilizational future-making is conceptualized as realizing Divine Will within human agency. The final outcome is a three-level model that, by linking Meaning, Being, and Future, provides a theoretical foundation for establishing the New Islamic Civilization.

Keywords

Subjects

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Nahj al-Balagha
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