Pan-Islamist Elite Dissatisfaction. The first important factor that initiated the debates and the process of political reform was the widespread dissatisfaction with the ideologically inspired attainments of the IRI. To a growing group of elite during the late 1980s and early 1990s, the IRI had under-performed to the extent that could not be even defined as an underdeveloped regime on the path to modernity, stability and progress (Abdi, 2002). A good example of this view is to be found in several long essays written in late 1980s and then in 1990s by some members of government such as Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, some members of parliamentary commissions such as Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxx, and some high-ranking members of clerical institution such as Grand Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx-Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Shabestari, and Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx.3 Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx, who was close to top clerical officials had lived through most of the post-revolutionary political events and observed the results, which he described. Aware of the political problems that awaited him if he openly criticised his opponents, he offered his essay ‘The Governance of vilayet-i faqih’ to Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx when it was published. Doubtless, he discussed its contents previously with other members of the IRI establishment and those Pan-Islamist intellectuals who somehow had relations to the state’s institution. His several essays are therefore a good indication of the intellectual atmosphere among Pan- Islamist intellectuals prior to the process of political reform, and merit an extended discloser throughout this research (Kadivar, 1998, p. 211). In ‘The Political Thought in Islam’ volume 2 ‘The Governance of Jurisprudence’ Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx offers an interpretation of ideology and governing model in Political Islam that includes a related explanation on doctrine of vilayet-i faqih from its early 1979 official announcement to its later absolute form and function. His underlying theme is that the politico- ideological interpretation of Political Islam by Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx was entirely correct, but due to serious and recurring mistakes by state officials, and to some extent Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx himself (concept on leadership of xxxxxxx-x xxxxx), the IRI establishment did not adhere to those appropriate principle of Islamic model which they should have followed (Ibid. p. 211). In this view, however, Xxxxxxx by no means stood alone. Other members of the IRI elite, such as Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxxx...
