Explaining the Effective Factors on the Formation of Candidates and Representatives’ Voter Bases in the Islamic Consultative Assembly Election (Case Study: Election Rounds 7th to 10th at Mamasani Electorate)

پژوهش ‎های جغرافیای سیاسی

Article 1, Volume 3, Issue 4 - Serial Number 10, March 2019, Pages 1-37   

Document Type: مقالات علمی -پژوهشی

DOI: 10.22067/pg.v3i10.73185

Authors

Hadi Azami^{* 1}; Vahid Sadeghi¹; Seyyed Mohammad Hossein Hosseini²

¹Ferdowsi University of Mashhad

²Allameh Tabataba'i University

Abstract

Extended Abstract

Introduction

Tribalism, birthplace, and nativism are factors that influence the candidates’ voter bases. The Mamasani electorate is a geographical region in which the political actors’ bases are influenced by regional and tribal orientations; a major part of their success is indebted to tribalism and their place of birth. Yet, despite the dominant influence of tribal voting patterns on political actions of Mamasani voters, the candidates and representatives’ bases at this electorate are not solely exclusive to their tribe or habitat territory; the presence of geographical regions that play a complementary role in the base with either a fragile or stable nature at the territories of other tribes could also play a significant role in their victory. Subsequently, it can be expressed that the formation of social roles at each tribal territory would empower and form the candidates’ bases in a “random”, “organized”, or “hybrid” manner.

Review of Literature

2.1. Social Network
The focus of the social network theory is on connections and relations between different components of social phenomena. According to this theory, there are interactive network among various components of the society both at micro and macro scales. Integration of these interactive networks and their functions result in the preservation and survival of the organism of society.
 
2.2 Social Construct
The theory of social construct involves a network of positions or degrees by which people have relations with one another. Fundamental elements of the social construct include “culture”, “language”, and “communication”; to understand social actions, it is necessary to recognize these elements as well as their interrelations. In the structural view, people in a society are regarded as beings under the influence of social constructs, of which they are members.
2.3 Electoral Geography
Electoral geography is the analysis of interactions between space, location, and the election process, as well as the study of the effects of spatial differences in political behaviors. Alternatively, electoral geography is inspired by political geography in which the patterns for spatial distribution of power as interactive relations among geography, election and power are examined.
2.4 Tribalism
Tribalism is an internal sense and motivation within the inhabitants of a particular location who prefer the values related to their understanding of their living environment over values that extend beyond their own territory and relate to other locations. Accordingly, as a coherent and consistent whole, the residents of a particular settlement have a local collective identity based on which they would vote for a figure or a party they sympathize with, whilst taking their own social, economic, and cultural into account.

Method

The present inquiry is a basic study conducted using the descriptive-analytical method. In this study, the relation between three variables of the social network theory, social construct, and voter base were examined and analyzed as the independent, mediator, and dependent variables, respectively. Data were collected using library and document studies as well as field observations.

Results and Discussion

Given the findings of the study, factors including tribes and ethnic and kin relations had the highest effect on the formation of candidates’ bases at Mamasani electorate due to the dominant tribal-oriented structure of the area; subsequently, the number of votes for the entire candidates were guaranteed at their places of birth. However, candidates and members from each tribe have managed to create social networks within each other’s territories using tools of social; construct (culture, language, and communication). Considering the type of social construct, these networks are classified into a number of forms including “organized”, “random”, and “hybrid”. Consequently, organized networks within the territory of a tribe are oriented towards the candidates of another tribe based on factors such as identity, location, culture and language, empowering their voter bases. Furthermore, random networks during certain election rounds have supported candidates associated with other tribes using communication tools (social interaction, economic services, construction projects, funds, pertinacity, etc.). Therefore, it is much more likely for these networks to separate themselves from other tribes and support their own. In addition, some of these networks are hybrid (identify-benefit) to serve as a powerful support for representatives. The findings also show that the candidates and representatives of three tribes including Bakesh, Rostam, and Javid have managed to create networks within each other’s territories.

Conclusion

According to the results, during the 7th until the 10th round of election, the voting bases of candidates and representatives from tribes including Bakesh, Javid, Rostam, and Tire Bavaan have been influenced by environmental and identity-related factors such as geographical and tribal identities; moreover, the representatives’ bases were empowered by constructs such as random, organized, and hybrid social networks shaped by tools of social construct (culture, language, and communication).
 

Keywords

Election Geography; Social Networking; Social Construction; Clericalism; and Mamassani Election

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