Some issues of the development of civil society in the islamic Republic of Iran
In the context of the recent discussions on the compatibility of Islam and democracy, the article examines the issue of the peculiarities of the development of civil society and its institutions in Iran. The article also analyses the nature of modern Iranian civil society and the possibility of its evolution. In this context, the authors examine the dynamics of the evolution of civil society in the Islamic Republic of Iran, identify a number of tendencies and patterns in this process. In particular, the article notes that the peak of the development of civil society in the Islamic Republic of Iran falls on the years of the presidency of Mohammad Khatami (1997-2005). The relative development of civil society during the presidency of M. Khatami is considered one of the most valuable results of the reform movement in the Islamic Republic of Iran. During this period, scientific and cultural exchanges with Western NGOs and research organizations began in Iran. President Khatami proposed the concept of “Islam and civil society”, which assumed development based on the traditions inherent in Iranian society. In Iran, an attempt was made to create a social base for subsequent modernization through formation of civil society. Khatami wrote that the main problem of Iranian society is the “weakness of religious intellectualism”, which he saw in a lack of understanding of contemporary problems. The article concludes with a summary and some recommendations.