Analysis of the leadership of Imam Khomaini during imposed war from the perspective of sociology of emotions

Abstract

Reviewing Imam Khomeini’s leadership during the imposed war, this article in the incipient context of emotions sociology aimed to respond the question that how Imam orchestrated the feelings of the masses and the armed forces to strengthen their defensive spirit during the war. Applying a content qualitative analysis methodology on Imam’s writings and words, the paper argues that the based on elements such as divine-based fledgling society, God’s invisible hand, positive fear-provoking, considering war as blessing, promise of a victory, seeking similarity with Ashura and early Islam period to release and consolidate the emotional energies into a sense of responsibility, obtaining fame and honor, obtaining spiritual strength, self-sacrifice, commitment and collective solidarity, taking revenge, and showing anger to the enemy, Imam led the masses toward resistance against the Baathist regime and eventually brought them victory.

Keywords

• imposed war
• sociology of emotions
• ideal divine society
• positive fear
• imam khomaini