Imam Khomeini’s stand is that politics can, and should, be ethical, for politics is nothing but implementation of ethics in a broader spectrum of the society as well as realization of religious ideals and goals.
In the opinion of the Imam Khomeini, the essence of power is an attribute of perfection and God also possesses this attribute in its absolute sense. Imam said in this regard as following:
“Power is a form of perfection in itself. God, the Sublime and Exalted, is powerful.”
As such, one should not shun power. Instead, he should understand it and benefit from it.
In an optimal way, and the proper way of benefiting from something, in the view of the Imam, is internal refinement.
Thus, he stands on the proposition that in case it is acquired by unrefined individuals, power is dangerous. In case power is obtained by corrupt persons, this same perfection will lead him to corruption.
Therefore, in the intellectual code of the Imam, power ought not to be feared or evaded. Rather, it should be properly utilized, nourished and embellished; by means of relentless trimming of the extra branches of power, its possible centralization and absolutism can be parried.
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