Hawzah News Agency- Speaking at a conference in Mashhad, Hojatoleslam Taleghani stated that the overwhelming public participation not only strengthens the legitimacy and authority of the political system in both domestic and international perception, but has made preserving this accumulated social capital one of the most critical imperatives for the country's future.
The event, titled "The Nation-Building Funeral; Requirements and Opportunities," was organized by the Islamic Propagation Office of Khorasan Razavi in cooperation with the Research Institute for Islamic Revolution Sciences.
The Link Between Public Mourning and Political Legitimacy
Analyzing the relationship between the monumental funeral and the political system's legitimacy, Taleghani argued from a political philosophy perspective that such public phenomena play a direct role in the reproduction of political authority and legitimacy.
He clarified that legitimacy, in its technical political philosophy sense, refers to the "right to exercise power," and should not be conflated with religious or jurisprudential definitions. The fundamental question in political philosophy, he noted, is the basis upon which power holders derive their right to rule.
Efficiency: A Pillar of Legitimacy
The scholar pointed to a major theory in political philosophy asserting that a political system's efficiency is among the most critical factors in creating and reinforcing legitimacy. A system that successfully fulfills its core duties earns the right to exercise power in the eyes of its citizens and even external observers.
Taleghani noted that in the year 2025, this perception took shape within elite circles and public opinion both at home and abroad, as the Islamic Republic's successful performance in national defense altered many individuals' views on the system's capability.
Strategic Leadership Behind Defense Prowess
He stressed that the country's defense achievements were the direct result of the martyred leader's strategic guidance, as the defense sector was managed under his direct supervision, with administrations playing no decisive role in this arena.
"The Islamic Republic managed to defend the country against a massive, organized, and pre-planned assault by major global powers and the Zionist regime," Taleghani stated. "This very efficiency became one of the most significant factors in boosting the political system's legitimacy and authority."
He revealed that this shift prompted a number of elites and figures who had lived abroad for years—and had deemed returning to Iran impossible—to reconsider their positions and return home. He described this reverse migration as a direct outcome of witnessing the political system's efficiency and the resulting surge in trust.
Social Capital as a Pillar of Authority
Addressing the role of social capital in political authority, Taleghani described it as an interdisciplinary concept with a direct correlation to a political system's legitimacy. Greater social capital, he said, translates into increased persuasive power, social mobilization, and capacity to govern society.
Social capital, he explained, signifies broad social acceptance and public trust—manifested when the people respond to the establishment's calls with solidarity and participation, a key component of political authority.
A Display of Popular Backing with Domestic and International Repercussions
Referring to the domestic and international impact of the martyred leader's grand funeral, Taleghani declared that such a ceremony generates enormous social capital for the political system in the eyes of domestic public opinion and, crucially, external observers, signaling that the system enjoys genuine popular backing.
He added that even the shift in stance by certain cultural and artistic figures abroad—and their recent expressions of support for Iran—could be interpreted as a sign of increased social capital and strengthened national cohesion.
Preserving the Asset Is the Real Challenge
The senior scholar issued a stern warning that creating social capital alone is insufficient. "Preserving and solidifying it is of greater importance, because the experience of past years has shown that this capital can rapidly diminish due to certain mismanagements or events that could have been controlled and managed," he cautioned.
Taleghani concluded that if the newly generated social capital is preserved and reinforced, it could shape the future of both the political system and the wider Islamic world. However, neglect could see this great opportunity squandered, with undesirable consequences.
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