This study aims to examine the optimal governance model concerning the element of public trust in the Islamic system and society. The research question is: What is the role of the agents of the Islamic system in achieving the optimal governance model based on public trust? The results indicate that the performance of the agents of the Islamic system, from the perspective of public trust, plays a significant role in shaping the optimal governance model in two ways: horizontal trust (interactions and relationships among the agents) and vertical trust (relationships between agents and the people). This means that the role and performance of the agents in achieving the optimal governance model in the Islamic system, in its horizontal aspect, require consideration of elements such as consultation and meritocracy, avoidance of division and power-seeking, and realism. Moreover, from the perspective of vertical trust, it requires simplicity and integrity, opposition to oppression, justice, and receptiveness to criticism in order to realize the structure of an ideal society. The practical and theoretical conduct of the infallible Imams (peace be upon them) introduces the dimensions of optimal governance as being contingent upon the application of the aforementioned principles. The experience of the Islamic Republic of Iran has also continued this approach; however, it requires operationalizing these principles within the current conditions of society, accepting criticism in the form of public culture and institutionally, and stating criteria for distinguishing principled, honest, and most suitable elites, so that public trust can serve as a permanent support for the Islamic system. This article employs a theoretical framework for modeling and a descriptive-analytical method.
Introduction
Every political and social system, for its continuity, provision of services, and meeting the needs of its members, is influenced by structural and agent-related factors. Structural factors refer to historical, political, social, and long-standing conditions that affect the general state and situation of society; agent-related factors refer to the interactions of elites and managers who can change the status of society. Accordingly, a significant part of studies on societal governance focuses on these two factors, aiming to provide an optimal model that both solves societal problems and offers a desirable vision for the future. The Islamic system, in line with its lofty goals, emphasizes overcoming obstacles to achieve an ideal society and, due to the connection between religious laws and the desired political and social society, has formulated and announced related strategies. Among the most important strategies is the examination of the characteristics and behavior of officials, which has been a subject of attention since long ago and can be observed in verses, narrations, religious laws, and most importantly, the practices of the Imams (peace be upon them). Today, with the establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran, presenting an optimal model for political and social conditions and consequently outlining a vision regarding the role and position of officials has become highly significant and can be done by referencing religious principles and laws.
Officials in the Islamic Republic of Iran comprise elites, leaders, managers, and notable individuals who influence the behavior and speech of the people in various domains and are considered as society’s “notables.” The role these officials and elites play in Islamic society ultimately reflects the views and opinions of the people, which can be examined through the concept of public trust in two dimensions: horizontal trust and vertical trust. Horizontal trust focuses on the interaction among elites, while vertical trust pertains to the interaction between the people and elites or political officials. From this perspective, achieving an optimal governance model that goes beyond mere administration and can be appealing to members of society or other societies requires criteria to evaluate officials’ behavior and performance. This means assessing to what extent each action and behavior of officials aligns with the people’s views and to what extent it causes dissatisfaction and distrust. Based on this, the present research aims to discuss the role of Islamic system officials in realizing an optimal governance model through the lens of public trust and related components.
The necessity of such research lies primarily in providing criteria to reassess the appropriate behavior of officials towards the people and each other and identifying which characteristics and standards can foster or diminish public trust in the path toward an optimal governance model in the Islamic system. This study is fundamental research that, using the role of officials, seeks to propose an ideal governance model in Islamic society. This model specifically addresses political conditions and societal management and identifies behavioral damages of officials in the Islamic Republic of Iran based on standards presented in the traditions of the Imams or other religious laws. The article employs a theoretical framework of modeling and a descriptive-analytical method.
Main Body
Achieving an ideal system in Islamic society can be examined from two aspects: First, building trust among elites (vertical trust), so that elites and political officials can implement consultation and meritocracy in selecting societal managers and thus govern society more competently. Another approach discussed here is managing society through synergizing managerial abilities, employing unifying methods, and avoiding division or treating power as an ultimate goal. Realism is also a principle within the duties and functions of managers and officials in Islamic society to perform necessary actions considering internal and external circumstances and solving problems. This means the role of Islamic system officials, based on verses, narrations, and years of experience in the Islamic Republic of Iran, requires considering public feedback. If any of these roles exceed moderation and power becomes an end for officials, achieving the optimal governance model will be impossible.
The other aspect of an ideal society can be examined through vertical trust (interaction between people and Islamic system officials). This aspect of the optimal governance model is related to officials’ performance in providing public services while exhibiting qualities such as integrity, simplicity, justice, opposition to oppression, acceptance of criticism, and willingness to reform. If these characteristics are neglected in society’s management, public trust in elites and officials will erode, depriving the people, the main support of the political system, of their role in countering threats and dangers. This will nullify the distinguishing features, goals, and tools of the Islamic system in becoming a model. Therefore, it is necessary to focus on increasing the people’s role in critiquing society and monitoring officials’ performance, promoting public accountability, expanding general oversight on one hand, and establishing independent judicial supervision favoring the people and free from political bias on the other.
Conclusion
The role and performance of officials and managers in any society are well-known, and societal corruption or integrity is closely linked to their actions. Accordingly, this research aims to examine the optimal governance model concerning the element of public trust in the Islamic system and society. The main question is: What is the role of Islamic system officials in realizing an optimal governance model based on public trust? The study’s results show that the performance of officials, from the perspective of public trust, is crucial in forming the ideal governance model in two dimensions: horizontal trust (relations and interactions among officials) and vertical trust (relations between officials and the people). This means that the role and performance of officials in achieving an optimal governance model in the Islamic system horizontally require consultation, meritocracy, avoidance of division and power-seeking, and realism. Vertically, it requires integrity, simplicity, justice, opposition to oppression, and acceptance of criticism to realize the framework of an ideal society. The practical and theoretical conduct of the Imams (peace be upon them) introduces the dimensions of optimal governance as dependent on applying these principles. The experience of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s governance model continues this path but requires implementing them in the current social conditions, accepting criticism institutionally within the public culture, and defining criteria to distinguish religiously committed, honest, and competent elites. This way, public trust can be established as a permanent support for the Islamic system.