News Science Quarterly (NS)

News Science Quarterly (NS)

The Role of Media in Political Participation in the Context of Modernization and Development: The Case of Revolutionary Iran

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Zahra Baharvand irannia 1
Fazel Kord 2
1 Corresponding author: Assistant Professor, Farhangian University of Iran, Ayatollah Kamalvand Campus, Lorestan, Iran. Email: Zaba3801@cfu.ac.ir
2 Ph.D. in Political Sociology, Independent Researcher. Email: kordfazel3@gmail.com
10.22034/lrsi.2025.506895.1330
Abstract
Objective: The primary objective of this study is to examine the role of media in shaping political participation within the context of modernization and development in Iran. Media have emerged as one of the most essential democratic institutions, particularly in mobilizing electoral resources and fostering political and electoral engagement during the country’s transition toward development and modernization. They play a critical role in enhancing the quality of political systems. The central research question is: How have media contributed to political participation in the process of modernization and development?
Method: Data were collected through library-based research, utilizing documentary and online sources. The study employed a historical method with a descriptive-analytical approach.
Results: By influencing public opinion, the media have functioned as intellectual guides and directional agents in political and electoral competition. They have played an effective role in state-building and the structuring of political power, and have significantly contributed to political transformations, political participation, and the transition toward modernization and development.
Conclusions: The findings indicate that media serve both as instruments of public awareness and as communication channels among citizens, as well as between citizens and the government. They exert a decisive influence on political participation and the formation of public opinion in support of modernization and development. A meaningful relationship exists between mass media and political participation, suggesting that both domestic and international media have had positive—and at times negative—effects on the level of political engagement. In addition to generating political and intellectual discourse and paving the way for civil liberties, media are considered a vital component of social capital, affecting social bonds and the motivations underlying public participation.
Keywords
Media
Political Participation
Modernization
Development
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