Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

• Jafar Narimani ¹
• Abbas Sohrab Zadeh ²
• Alireza Sheikh Mohammadi ²

¹ Ph.D Student, Political Sciences, Political Sociology, Shahreza Islamic Azad University, Shahreza, Iran

² Assistant Professor, Political Sciences, Payam e Noor University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Introduction
Since World War II, the concept of development has entered the realm of political literature, encompassing various political, economic, cultural, and other dimensions. Rooted in the scientific and modern thinking of the Age of Enlightenment, development aims to improve the human life. At its core, development entails using societal production resources to enhance the living conditions of the poor. It signifies evolution, change, growth, progress, and modernization. Without a clear understanding of these concepts, it will be difficult to define development accurately. An overview of theoretical perspectives on development reveals that global political changes have consistently influenced the way scholars and thinkers consider different elements in their approach towards the concept of development.
Various approaches to development include development as the historical progress, natural resource extraction, preplanned sociopolitical progress, economic growth, structural transformation, modernization, leaps in productive forces (Marxist interpretation), freedom of choice, sustainable development, and antiindustrialism. There have also been some reflections on development as a discourse of dominance, the idea of postdevelopment, and development as a state versus development as a process. These approaches illustrate the conceptual evolution of development in relation with politics. In addition to the diversity of approaches, development encompasses multiple interrelated dimensions: economic, social, political, cultural, human, industrial, as well as sustainable development.
The current study aimed to explain the political–economic dimensions of development and the obstacles and issues faced in Ilam Province in Iran. Historically, these two dimensions are prerequisites for others, so it is reasonably justified to analyze them simultaneously. While a onedimensional approach to development may suffice in some cases, comprehensive development necessitates the coordination and simultaneity of multiple dimensions. The explanations based on


 
agency tend to identify critical junctures in policymaking, describing the actors involved in vital decisionmaking processes and their rationale for implementing certain decisions. Another approach emphasizes the structure of political institutions.
Literature Review
Several studies have dealt with development and the elite. Nooryan (2013) investigated the role of the political elite in the development of contemporary Asian societies. He found that political elites have had both positive and, at times, negative impact on the process of growth and balanced development in these societies. Focusing on the case of Iran from 1953 to 1978, Zibakalam et al. (2012) argued that Iranian political elites had hindered political development through a hierarchical power structure, abuse of power and corruption, prohibition on free and fair elections, election fraud, press suppression, and the suppression of independent parties and groups. Parizad and Hatamifar (2019) examined the role of economic elites after the Islamic Revolution in Iran. They concluded that sustainable economic growth and development requires paving the way and preparing economic infrastructure in the country. Jalali and Gholami (2010) examined the intellectual cohesion of political elites within the government and the establishment of political stability. Their historical studies demonstrated the key role of elites in social, political, economic, and cultural transformations, influencing the development process as well. Relying on Adrian Leftwich’s theory, Eyni and Delavari (2018) compared the role of elites in the economic development of Iran and Malaysia during the presidency of


 
Mohammad Khatami and Mahathir Mohamad in the respective countries. According to them, they found that Iran’s economic development requires national consensus and support for the economic policies, as well as stability and a collective cultural effort.
Materials and Methods
The study aimed to explain a model of factors influencing the political–economic development of Ilam Province, focusing on the role of the official elite. As an applied inquiry, the study adopted a mixed method design combining qualitative and quantitative approaches for data collection. In the qualitative phase, the statistical population of the study consisted of 30 experts, professors, and local elites. The qualitative analysis relied on a nonrandom, snowball sampling method, and the sampling was continued until theoretical saturation. The Delphi technique was used to identify the factors influencing the political–economic development of Ilam Province. The quantitative phase helped determine the model fit.
Results and Discussion
After reviewing the theoretical foundations and background, the study extracted the components and identified the factors influencing the political–economic development of Ilam Province. The analysis focused on the role of the official elite. The identified factors were validated and finalized through the Delphi technique and expert panels. The factors were then incorporated into a model. The validity and reliability of the model, as well as the model fit, were determined. Moreover, the hypotheses were formulated accordingly. According to


the results, some factors directly influence the political–economic development of Ilam Province. These factors that are closely related to the elite include: the sense of political security, motivations, meritocracy, developmentalism, culturebuilding, competitive scientific environment, strategic orientation, and political institutionality of the elite, as well as the context of the Islamic society. Therefore, the intermittent or continuous progress of Iran in the last three decades can be attributed to the elite’s will, responsibility, and feeling of attachment to their home country, namely Iran. Despite numerous challenges and a lack of technological infrastructure, hundreds of prominent figures are actively working in various fields, with significant results so far.
Conclusion
Based on the research findings and the model, two courses of action can be suggested for pursuing development in Ilam Province. Working within the framework of their proposed plans, the unofficial elite must gain a nuanced understanding of the obstacles facing the development of the province. They need to realize that development requires measures that sometimes go beyond the control of the government and the official elite. Second, the official elite must relinquish their governmental monopoly on decisionmaking and allow the unofficial elite to participate in structural and behavioral decisionmaking processes. The two courses of action can help reach a common understanding for decisionmaking characterized by realism, pragmatism, rationalism, compliance with the positive law, and consideration of national interests and the province’s development. Therefore, the development model of Ilam province is not legally different from the country’s development model. However, the cultural and social relations between official and unofficial elites may differ from those in other provinces. Recognizing these differences can help facilitate development in Ilam Province.

Keywords

• Political Development
• Economic Development
• Elites
• Ilam Province

Main Subjects

• Political Sociology