The Analysis of Election Behaviour of Isfahan City Citizens (Before the Ninth Round of Islamic Majlis Council)

Subject Areas :

Mojtaba Attarzadeh ¹ , Hossein Tavasoli ²

1 - استادیار و عضو هیکت علمی دانشگاه هنر اصفهان
2 - دانشجوی کارشناسی ارشد علوم سیاسی دانشگاه اصفهان

Received: 2011-01-23 Accepted : 2011-04-08 Published : 2010-12-01

Keywords: Isfahan, political participation, election behavior, rational election theory, dominant ideology theory, party, factional identity theory,

Abstract :

Political participation is not merely taking part in elections but it is an act which can be measured as an index. What is determining in election results is the election behavior of the citizens which differ from one city to another. The election behavior decides as to how the citizens elect the candidates. What are the criteria and the determining factors which decide that how the citizens choose a particular candidate? A study of the trend of political participation in elections is one of the ways which one can come to know about the motives of voters in participating in elections. Since the level of consciousness and knowledge is a determining factor in political participation choosing a place like Isfahan which is having the above qualification facilitates the conduct of the present study. Isfahan is one of the five metropolises of the country which has had important place and role in political participation. The trend of political participation in this city is showing the importance of this city in decision-making in the country. Therefore, taking into consideration the importance of Isfahan, the analysis of the election behavior of the people of this city is of great importance. The present article is trying to explain the election behavior of the people of Isfahan before the ninth Islamic Majlis parliamentary elections on the basis of three theories: the dominant ideology theory, rational election theory and party-factional identity theory. The methodology used in the study is field work and the questionnaire distributed among a statistical group in Isfahan city. The finding of the study is based on analysis of the statistical data.