Civilizational Management in the Intellectual–Political System of the Leaders of the Islamic Revolution: The Manifestation of the Culture of Sacrifice, Martyrdom, and Resistance

Abstract

The culture of sacrifice, martyrdom, and resistance constitutes one of the most fundamental components of the political and managerial thought of Ruhollah Khomeini and Ali Khamenei; a culture that emerged within the framework of Qur’anic teachings and the school of Ashura and has transcended the level of a moral virtue to become a civilization-building strategy in the management of Islamic society. By posing the central question of “What role does the culture of sacrifice, martyrdom, and resistance play in the formation, legitimacy, and sustainability of the Islamic system?”, this study seeks to examine the relationship between this culture and the components of religious democracy, justice, and independence in the thought of the Leaders of the Islamic Revolution. The research method is analytical–descriptive and based on documentary analysis employing the statements of Ruhollah Khomeini and Ali Khamenei, the Holy Qur’an, and historical sources related to the Islamic Revolution. The findings indicate that, within the intellectual framework of Ruhollah Khomeini, the culture of sacrifice and martyrdom serves as the source of political legitimacy and the guarantor of the continuity of the Revolution, since the blood of martyrs establishes the link between divine legitimacy and popular acceptance. In the thought of Ali Khamenei, this culture also constitutes the pillar of religious democracy and the driving force behind Islamic civilization, while playing a central role in resisting cultural, economic, and political domination. Overall, the results of the study demonstrate that the culture of sacrifice and resistance is not only a factor in the survival and endurance of the Islamic Revolution, but also the foundation for the formation of a civilization-building management model in the Islamic Republic of Iran; a model grounded in justice, spirituality, and independence, the continuity of which guarantees the realization of a modern Islamic civilization.