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The Promise and Paradox of the Islamic Republic | Deep Dive: Iran Ep. 1 | Imam Tom Facchine
Can an Islamic Republic be genuinely Islamic or does the logic of the modern nation state inevitably subordinate religion to political power?
In Episode 2 of Deep Dive: Iran, Imam Tom Facchine applies the lens of political theory to the Iranian state, examining how Khomeini's doctrine of Wilayat al-Faqih (Guardianship of the Jurist) represented both a bold innovation within Shia tradition and a continuation of centuries-old patterns of political legitimation.
The episode draws on classical Shia jurisprudence, the work of contemporary scholar Wael Hallaq, and a careful reading of Iran's constitution — including Articles 11 and 12 — to assess where the Islamic Republic's stated pan-Islamic commitments have held, and where national and sectarian interests appear to have taken precedence.