Iranian reformists in the Middle East modernisation process a study on the example of Mohammad Khatami

This thesis aims to examine the transformations in Iran in connection with the outcomes of modernization efforts in the Middle East over certain periods. Excluding the introduction and conclusion sections, the study consists of six chapters. In the first chapter, titled "Modernizing Middle East," the Middle East will be defined regionally and conceptually. In the second chapter, Iran and its historical process within the region will be discussed. The third chapter will address the state structure to provide insight into the organization of the Islamic Republic of Iran, emphasizing the roles of the Supreme Leader and the President in the system. The fourth chapter focuses on the emergence of conservative groups rooted in traditional governance, arising from the political divide between right and left-wing factions. This chapter will also touch upon the modernization process during the Shah's regime, particularly the White Revolution, and highlight the prominence of the National Front movements under the leadership of Mohammad Mossadegh. The fifth chapter explores the path to the Islamic Revolution, focusing on Ayatollah Khomeini's charismatic leadership image and his desire to lay the foundations of the Islamic Revolution as a counter to the White Revolution. In the sixth and final chapter, Mohammad Khatami's unexpected candidacy and victory in the 1997 presidential election, along with the adoption of reformist movements, will be examined. Press movements during Khatami's era, political smear campaigns by conservatives, parliamentary elections, and the transition to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's era will also be analyzed. In the conclusion section, a general evaluation will be provided, addressing the obstacles to every political transformation in Iran and the challenges these pose to democracy. The study will seek to answer questions about the extent to which Mohammad Khatami was able to implement his intended reform movements. Through the data obtained, a different perspective will be presented to better understand the era in question. In this study, the presidential institution will be examined as a symbolically significant entity positioned behind the religious leader, and the contributions of Muhammed Hatemi, Iran's fifth president, to modernization will be discussed. In the sections leading up to this point, the reasons behind the continuous disruption of democracy will be extensively analyzed and the conflict between conservative and reformist groups will be exlored in depth.