The year 1391 should be regarded as one of the most fruitful years in terms of elaborating important concepts within the framework of the discourse of the Islamic Revolution. National production, national dignity, economy of resistance, Islamic progress, scientific progress, building a new Islamic civilization, identifying issues and problems relating to lifestyle, defining Islamic lifestyle, the Islamic view of freedom, political stability and tranquility, historic juncture and Islamic Awakening are among the most important concepts discussed by the Leader in the year 1391.
Since political developments take place very fast and because new social discourses and the massive amount of news and information and the political propaganda of the enemies of the Islamic Revolution may confuse public opinion, a brief discussion of the above-mentioned concepts can clear up some of the confusion. However, in order to fully understand these concepts, one should study them carefully. We will briefly discuss a number of the most important concepts highlighted last year by the Leader.
National Production
From the viewpoint of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, "The material progress of the country is based on two factors. The first factor is knowledge, and production is the second factor."[1] Five years ago - that is to say, in the beginning of the year 1386 - Ayatollah Khamenei said that the plans of the enemy against the Iranian nation are: "Psychological warfare, economic warfare and efforts to confront the progress and scientific power of Iran." [2] He introduced certain slogans to improve the economy of the country. These slogans are "innovation and blossoming", "reforming the norms of consumption", "intensified effort and labor" and "economic jihad". Also,last year was named "The Year of National Production and Supporting Iranian Labor and Capital".[3] This slogan was used to ensure the continuation of economic jihad.
In order to confront the economic plots of the enemies and make progress, "We should be able to support the work of Iranian laborers and the capital of Iranian investors, and the only way to make this happen is to strengthen national production. The role that the government should play in this regard is to support our domestic industrial and agricultural products and the role of our investors and laborers is to strengthen the cycle of production and bolster production work. And the role of the people - which I believe is the most important role - is to consume our domestic products."[4]
From the viewpoint of the Leader, "Various measures should be adopted on different fronts: regarding the issue of improving the skills of the workforce, the issue of correct managerial attitudes, the issue of empowering the workforce, the issue of confronting economic disruption in the right way, the issue of sense of security for both laborers and investors, creating competitive advantages, making the cost of production competitive, production-based policies, promoting the culture of consuming domestic products, improving the quality of domestic products, modernization of production equipment, and innovative products, management and production." [5] The Leader has formulated the general policies on national production and supporting Iranian labor and capital.[6]
National Honor
"According to the Holy Quran, genuine and perfect honor belongs to God and anyone who fights for a divine cause. In the confrontation between truth and falsehood and between the camp of God and the camp of Satan, honor belongs to those who fight for the camp of God. One of the main characteristics of Imam Khomeini's (r.a.) lifestyle was instilling the spirit of national honor into our nation. Our nation rediscovered itself by relying on the sense of honor that it gained from Imam Khomeini (r.a.) and the Revolution. Our nation discovered itself and its capabilities. And this is the reason why we have seen many of the divine promises being fulfilled in front of our eyes over the past few decades."[7]
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution defines honor as "social and individual strength of character, which gives individuals and societies the power and strength to clear obstacles and confront challenges. The point that we must pay attention to is that this is not a one-shot effort, rather it involved continuous work. Nations should confront the causes of decline and stagnation."[8] It is here that the relationship between honor and progress becomes clear.
"Our national stability is the most important factor relating to infrastructure. Different governments have been voted into office and in spite of the disagreements and the varying political tendencies, our country has been stable since the victory of the Revolution and it has been moving towards goals. This is the most important element relating to our country's basic structure."[9]
The Leader believes, "With his movement, Imam Khomeini (r.a.) put us on a firm path and we must continue that path. Any stops on this path will result in regression. A nation that has gained honor and is moving forward on the path of progress, if such a nation fails to appreciate these blessing and it becomes ungrateful, then the hardships and gloom of the era of weakness and humiliation will return to it."[10] Ayatollah Khamenei says that our people believe in national honor and that this is a reality of our society.[11] He states that from an Islamic point of view, progress has certain characteristics. National honor is one of these important characteristics.[12]
Economy of Resistance
More than two years have passed since the Leader introduced this phrase. In his meeting with entrepreneurs, he said that entrepreneurs should focus their efforts on creating a genuine economy of resistance in the face of the enemy's economic pressure.[13] Almost a year after that, a number of students of Sharif University of Technology informed the Leader that they had formed a committee in order to find ways to develop an economy of resistance. This was supported and encouraged by the Leader.[14]
In fact, economy of resistance is a way to confront the economic plots of the enemy. The goal of such plots is to create obstacles in the way of public welfare and pit the people against the Islamic Republic by exerting pressures. [15] "Of course, an economy of resistance does not mean building a wall around oneself and merely carrying out defensive measures. Rather it is a kind of economy which allows a nation to achieve growth and blossoming even when it is under pressure."[16]
From the viewpoint of the Leader, "Putting the people in charge of economy", "minimizing our dependence on oil", "the issue of managing consumption" or "moderate consumption and avoidance of extravagance" "using domestically produced products", "moving forward on the basis of plans", "supporting knowledge-based companies", "adopting a scientific outlook on economy", "achieving stability in economic policies", "developing plans - such as the targeted subsidy plan - for improving economy of resistance", "encouraging economic professors to adopt a scientific approach to economy of resistance" and "strengthening national production" are among basic things which should be done to improve economy of resistance.[17] "Erratic decisions and changes in regulations are among the things that harm economy of resistance as well as national resistance. Both the executive branch and the Majlis should pay attention to this point. "[18]
Islamic Progress
From the viewpoint of the Leader, "Progress - as defined by Islam - is a key concept that to a large extent includes the popular demands in the country."[19] "Progress is associated with change and movement: it is a path. There is no limit to progress. Progress is a process. It is a path, but there is no end to it: it continues forever. Comprehensive progress can be considered as efforts to build a new Islamic civilization. After all, the Islamic conception of progress has a manifestation in the outside world." [20]
Building a New Islamic Civilization
"The goal of the Iranian nation and the Islamic Revolution is to build a new Islamic civilization."[21] "There are certain standards as far as progress is concerned. One of the standards of progress for a nation is having national dignity and self-confidence. Another standard for progress is justice." As far as national dignity and self-confidence is concerned, "Our nation has made a lot of progress." But regarding the standard of justice, "I believe that we have made progress in this regard - of course, not as much as we wanted to. If we compare our current conditions with what Islam has demanded from us, there is a long way to go and we need to make a lot of efforts." [22] Ayatollah Khamenei believes that from an Islamic point of view, progress requires certain foundations. These foundations are: political stability, economic infrastructure, legal infrastructure and workforce. [23]
"Progress in Islamic thought is different from progress in materialistic western civilization. They view progress from one single perceptive, from the materialistic perspective. But in Islamic thought, progress enjoys many other dimensions." The Leader states that western civilization focuses on the hardware part of civilization: "The goal of the Iranian nation and the Islamic Revolution is to build a new Islamic civilization, which is an accurate evaluation. This new civilization has two important parts. One part is the necessary instruments and the other part is the content and essences. It is necessary to pay attention to both parts. What are the instruments? The instruments are the values that we interpret as signs of our country's progress: science, inventions, industry, politics, political and military power. But the important part of civilization is what makes us the essence of life- namely lifestyle. This is the important part of civilization. One can think of this latter part as the software of civilization and the former part can be considered the hardware of civilization." [24] The fact that the Leader does not use the word "lifestyle" in its usual sense and the fact that he has tried to illustrate different dimensions of lifestyle based on Islamic culture, show the necessity of developing local theories and avoiding western theories on lifestyle. The Leader believes that our progress after the Revolution is not satisfactory on the issue of lifestyle.[25] The 20 questions that he posed in his speech to people of Bojnourd can and should be used as valuable guidelines for research in social sciences and humanities.
Political Stability and Tranquility
"Our national stability is the most important factor relating to infrastructure. Different governments have been voted into office and in spite of the disagreements and the varying political tendencies, our country has been stable since the victory of the Revolution and it has been moving towards goals. This is the most important element relating to infrastructure." [26] The Leader stressed that stability will enable us to compete with other countries: "A nation that enjoys security and political stability will have the opportunity to compete with other countries and become a pioneer in different arenas. Peace and security are among the most important demands of the people." [27] Perhaps the most important reason why the Leader stressed the issue of stability is upcoming presidential elections. He said, "Before and during the election, all of our government officials should focus their efforts on preserving political peace in the country. They should not let the political atmosphere of the country become turbulent."[28]
The Leader stressed that the Islamic Republic is not a by-stander in the changes that are taking place in the world. He believes that the Islamic Republic enjoys a special position. From his point of view the factors which give the Islamic Republic such a special position are: "First of all, Islamic Awakening started in our country. Second, the Islamic Republic has been founded on a firm system. Third, a major portion of the wealth that west is trying to plunder is in our country. Fourth, the Islamic Republic is intellectually productive, as opposed to the inability of the west to produce novel ideas. The fifth point and the factor which gives our country a special position is remaining steadfast in the face of the schemes that the west uses to advance its goals."[29]
Political tranquility of the country is so important that "from today to election day, anybody who plays with the emotions of the people in order to create discord, has definitely committed treason against the country." [30] It is so important that questioning the President in the Majlis - which is within the rights of the Majlis - should be cancelled if it shatters national tranquility.[31] This should be done because "one of the basic rights of the people is living in peace and in psychological and moral security."[32]
Historic Juncture
"The history of the world and humanity is at a great historic juncture today. This historic juncture that I spoke about is the transition from the hegemony of this dictatorship to national freedom and the rule of spiritual and divine values." The signs which prove this "historic juncture" exists are: "The attention to Allah the Exalted, the cries for assistance from the inexhaustible source of divine power and reliance on divine revelations and an uprising against global and international dictatorship, namely the tyranny of the corrupt and evil network of the Zionist and the arrogant powers."[33] Other signs are, "The failed campaign of the west, the efforts to have complete domination over this sensitive region, the events that are currently happening in Europe and the decline of America's credibility."[34]
"Our country enjoys a special position in this change, in this event, in this long story. We are not just a bystander in this matter. Our country enjoys a special position. What are the factors that give us this special position? First of all, Islamic Awakening started in our country. Second, the Islamic Republic has been founded on a firm system. Third, a major portion of the wealth that west is trying to plunder is in our country. Fourth, the Islamic Republic is intellectually productive, as opposed to the inability of the west to produce novel ideas. The fifth point and the factor which gives our country a special position is remaining steadfast in the face of the schemes that the west uses to advance its goals."[35]
In this historic juncture, officials and academic and seminary personalities can play a crucial role. If the people of Iran can put up a resistance against the current pressures exerted by the west, the Iranian nation will be victorious and "the course of history will be changed, the ground will be prepared for the re-appearance of the Imam of the Age (may our souls be sacrificed for his sake)."[36]
For more information on the issues which were discussed above, refer to our website: www.khamenei.ir
**********************************************************
[1] Leader's speech delivered on 28/4/2010 to a group of exemplary laborers
[2] Leader's speech delivered on 21/3/2007 at Imam Ridha's (a.s.) shrine
[3] Refer to Leader's Norouz messages issued on 20/3/2008, 21/3/2009, 21/3/2010/, 21/3/2011 and 20/3/2012
[4] Leader's Norouz message delivered on 20/3/2012
[5] Leader's speech delivered on 29/4/2012 to a group of laborers
[6] Policies on national production and supporting Iranian labor and capital announced by the Leader on 12/2/2013
[7] Leader's speech delivered on 3/6/2012 at Imam Khomeini's (r.a.) shrine
[8] Leader's speech delivered on 3/6/2012 at Imam Khomeini's (r.a.) shrine
[9] Leader's speech delivered on 10/10/2012 to people of Bojnourd
[10] Leader's speech delivered on 3/6/2012 at Imam Khomeini's (r.a.) shrine
[11] Leader's speech delivered on 24/7/2012 to a group of government officials
[12] Leader's speech 13/10/2012 to families of martyrs and war veterans of North Khorasan
[13] Leader's speech delivered on 7/9/2010 to a group of entrepreneurs
[14] Leader's speech delivered on 10/8/2011 to a group of students
[15] Leader's speech delivered on 24/7/2012 to a group of government officials
[16] Leader's speech delivered on 6/8/2012 to a group of students
[17] Refer to Leader's speech delivered on 24/7/2012 to a group of government officials, Leader's speech delivered on 23/8/2012 to President Ahmadinejad and cabinet members, Leader's speech delivered on 29/7/2012 to researchers and managers of knowledge-based companies, Leader's speech delivered on 6/8/2012 to a group of students and Leader's speech delivered on 15/10/2012 to people of Shirvan
[18] Leader's speech delivered on 24/7/2012 to a group of government officials
[19] Leader's speech delivered on 10/10/2012 to people of Bojnourd
[20] Leader's speech delivered on 14/10/2012 to youth of North Khorasan
[21] Leader's speech delivered on 14/10/2012 to youth of North Khorasan
[22] Leader's speech delivered on 13/10/2012 to people of Esfarayen
[23] Leader's speech delivered on 25/7/2007 to a group of officials in charge of education and Leader's speech delivered on 15/10/2012 to people of Shirvan
[24] Leader's speech delivered on 14/10/2012 to youth of North Khorasan
[25] Leader's speech delivered on 14/10/2012 to youth of North Khorasan
[26] Leader's speech delivered on 10/10/2012 to people of Bojnourd
[27] Leader's speech delivered on 15/10/2012 to people of Shirvan
[28] Leader's speech delivered on 15/10/2012 to people of Shirvan
[29] Leader's speech delivered on 12/8/2012 to a group of Professor
[30] Leader's speech delivered on 31/10/2012 to a group of students
[31] Leader's speech delivered on 21/11/2012 to a number of basijis
[32] Leader's speech delivered on 22/2/2013 to people of Azerbaijan
[33] Leader's speech delivered on 30/1/2012 to participants of Islamic Awakening and Youth Conference
[34] Leader's speech delivered on 12/8/2012 to a group of professors
[35] Leader's speech delivered on 12/8/2012 to a group of professors
[36] Leader's speech delivered on 9/1/2013 to people of Qom