Legal Sociology of Institutions in the Islamic Republic of Iran: A Case Study of the Supreme Council for Economic Coordination

Salehi, Hosayan; Rahimi, روح الله رحیمی; Sheikh Movahed, Mehdi; Moghadam Fard, Mohammad

doi:10.30465/scs.2025.51762.3003

Legal Sociology of Institutions in the Islamic Republic of Iran: A Case Study of the Supreme Council for Economic Coordination

Document Type : .

Authors

hosayan salehi ¹

روح الله رحیمی rahimi ²

mehdi sheikh movahed ²

Mohammad Moghadam Fard ²

¹ PhD student in Public Law, Shiraz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shiraz, Iran.

² Assistant Professor, Department of Public Law, Shiraz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shiraz, Iran

10.30465/scs.2025.51762.3003

Abstract

In response to the economic crisis and institutional inefficiency, the Supreme Council for Economic Coordination in the Islamic Republic of Iran was established as a policy-oriented institutional response to a broader social issue, shaped under exceptional circumstances. The council, formed based on urgent needs and designed to enhance coordination among the three branches of government, reflects a form of crisis-era governance that departs from ordinary legal procedures. Through a descriptive-analytical method and within the framework of legal sociology, this study investigates the council’s emergence, consolidation, and implications in the context of the relationship between law and political authority. Findings suggest that while the council was initially intended to accelerate urgent economic decisions, over time it has assumed roles traditionally held by legislative and executive bodies. This development illustrates an institutional adaptation to crisis but also invites critical reflection on its long-term trajectory. According to theories of the state of exception, the council symbolizes the legal system’s flexibility under pressure. The conclusion emphasizes that sustaining such institutions requires careful balance between efficiency, public accountability, and adherence to the rule of law to prevent the normalization of exceptional governance mechanisms.

Keywords

Exceptional situation

Legal order

Legal sociology

Rule of law

Supreme Council for Economic Coordination

Subjects