In Islamic teaching and tradition there is ample emphasis on the people regularly ’evaluating’ their attitudes, words and even presumptions. Believers and those practicing our faith abide by Qur’anic tenets in all facets of their life.
By the same token, those in charge of the people’s everyday affairs shoulder greater and heavier responsibilities compared to the other members of the society. In short, the officials in an Islamic system are not only accountable to their constituencies, but also obliged to examine and improve their performance at short intervals.
One year has passed since Mahmood Ahmadinejad was elected president. He entered the race on a broad-based socioeconomic platform that impressed both friend and foe.
His election manifesto pledged, among other things, to work tirelessly for promoting and upholding justice for all, getting rid of discrimination, fighting corruption and poverty in all its ugly forms and manifestations, overhauling the administrative system, and the officialdom assuming no-nonsense accountability vis-ˆ-vis the people.
Ever since the victory of the revolution in 1979 the executive branch has strived to improve the quality of life and deliver the goods. In actuality this is a key obligation of the state enshrined in the ideals of the Islamic Revolution.
But as is apparent, such and similar tasks were delayed and also denied for unavoidable reasons depending on time, events or shifts in priority. One of the reasons behind lack of justice in different phases in our society has been the priorities that past governments attached to economic, sociopolitical or cultural developments.
Economic development coupled with the promise of sustainable justice led to neglecting the short-term needs and demands of the majority. In the course of major political and other challenges the notion of justice for all lost its original meaning. However, with the arrival of Ahmadinejad on the scene, a new vision came along that seemingly tends to be different from what existed in the past two decades.
A primary feature of the new ruling elite is balanced and broad-based development with no strings attached.
Having said this, political and economic pundits are now waiting to see how and when the popular chief of the executive branch will deliver on his pledges that formed the core of his huge electoral victory that shocked the world.
With a challenging year behind it, the question that normally strikes both voters and non-voters anywhere in world is what has the government and its huge bureaucracy accomplished?
In our case, for instance, the people would want know whether the president’s provincial tours have helped remove the pressing problems of the masses known better for their humble lifestyles vastly different from the urbanites. The president and his cabinet have so far visited 15 provinces and informed the people, the dispossessed in particular, that change for the better is around the corner.
Are the officials down the ladder in harmony with the president in helping fulfill his declared goals, or is it that they have a different agenda? Has the notion of responsibility and accountability to the public been institutionalized in the new setup?
In time the nation would want to know whether the government machinery has managed to turn around the rigid administrative structure and employ the services of effective and competent managers able and willing to contribute to the progress and credibility of the nation.
A quarter of the tenure of the government has passed. As things stand now, a whole lot of important (economic) issues have still to be addressed and resolved, namely in the domains that directly affect our lives and those of our children.
It is obvious that what immature and misplaced public demands from the government could force it to make hasty decisions that may not be far-sighted, sustainable or efficacious. It is crucial that executive officials scrutinize and improve their ways and report the ground realities to the president and the people. If his happens, the people will place more hope in the administration and understand its opportunities and challenges.
All things considered, the majority of voters expect a lot more than what they expected from the previous governments. Their valid expectations can and will be fulfilled if and when senior state managers are in complete unison with the president who is obliged to bring in his team more doers as opposed to yes men.