The Stance of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution against Capitalism: A Critical Discourse Analysis with Norman Fairclough's Approach

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of political science and International Relations, ST.C, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Ira

2 Department of political science and International Relations, ST.C, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

3 a

Abstract
Capitalism, as one of the hegemonic components of the modern era, has always been subject to scrutiny and criticism by experts in the humanities. Amidst this, the stance of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution of Iran towards this system holds particular importance as a key part of the post-revolutionary political discourse. This research utilizes Norman Fairclough's three-dimensional model of critical discourse analysis, examining the official statements and positions of the Supreme Leader, to explore the reasons and methods behind the production and reproduction of a critical discourse concerning capitalism. Research data were extracted and interpreted using qualitative analysis and thematic coding. Findings indicate that the Leader's discourse, relying on specific linguistic elements (such as metaphorical terms like "evil," "domination," and "oppression") and employing Quranic-historical intertextuality, represents capitalism not merely as an economic model but as a symbol of colonialism and injustice in the global sphere. This position is a product of integrating Islamic intellectual foundations with contemporary critiques of Western capitalism, effectively serving as a tool for epistemological and identity resistance within contemporary Iranian political discourse. The study concludes that the reproduction of anti-capitalist discourse has not only led to the creation of institutional mechanisms based on Islamic teachings but has also contributed to the promotion of distributive justice, economic resilience, and the rejection of the hegemony of global capitalist structures—a phenomenon explainable and analyzable through Fairclough's analytical model.

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