Political Strategic Studies

Suspended Political Relations: A Phenomenological Study of Students’ Lived Experience of the Nation-State in Iran

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Tohid Esmaeilpour
Hassan Bashir

Faculty of Islamic Studies, Culture and Communication, , Imam Sadig University, Tehran, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22054/qpss.2026.89450.3706
Abstract
Effective political communication is vital to a nation-state’s survival and dynamism. However, its nature faces serious ambiguities in contemporary Iran. This phenomenological study explores the lived experience of university students in Tehran regarding nation-state communication to unveil its essential meaning. Data from in-depth interviews with 17 students were analyzed using Colaizzi’s thematic analysis method. Findings reveal a central phenomenon termed “Suspended Political Communication.” It is constructed from six primary themes: 1) a rupture in official channels and an inaccessible state apparatus; 2) a symbolic, compensatory relationship with the system’s leadership; 3) a vacuum of intermediary institutions, especially the structural crisis of political parties; 4) the plurality and competition of influential figures (from traditional elites to celebrities) and the rise of self-referentiality; 5) perceiving official media as a one-way, controlled space; and 6) the emergence of cyberspace as an alternative yet contradictory arena for action. This study concludes the lived experience of political communication in Iran is marked by a multifaceted divide, uncertainty, and a persistent search for alternative channels, with significant implications for policies aimed at rebuilding political trust.

Keywords

Political Phenomenology
Nation-State
Communication Gap
Political Trust
Political Communication
Subjects
Political Strategic Studies

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 14 February 2026

Article View 3,320

Main Page

Editorial Board

Guide for Authors

Submit Manuscript

Contact Us