Specialized Meeting on "Second Step Statement and Economic Governance" Held at Shahid Beheshti School of Governance

Dr. Mohsen Rezaei: The Second Step Statement serves as a roadmap for revolutionary economic governance centered on the people and resilient economy.

. According to the Center for Communications and International Relations of the National Defense University, a session on "Jihad of Explanation" was held with the participation of Dr. Mohsen Rezaei, a member of the Expediency Council. The meeting focused on elucidating the role of the Second Step Statement in advancing the strategic framework of the country and analyzing challenges in economic governance. Rezaei, while congratulating the arrival of the holy month of Ramadan, emphasized that the Second Step Statement is a roadmap for the country's future and a strategic document that possesses strong support both theoretically and practically.

He stated that this document has not been officially communicated from a governmental perspective and is not intended solely for institutions. He emphasized that the statement should not only capture the attention of officials and stakeholders but also engage intellectuals, youth, and the broader community. Therefore, its implementation requires a movement-oriented approach.

The Secretary of the Supreme Council for Economic Coordination of the Heads of the Branches reviewed key points from this statement, noting that the topic of the economy is one of the fundamental areas of focus. He pointed out that other issues addressed in the document are interconnected with economic matters. The Supreme Leader emphasizes in this statement: "The economy is a crucial determining factor, and a weak economy creates opportunities for influence and domination. While the economy is not the ultimate goal of the Islamic community, it is a means through which objectives can be achieved."

Dr. Mohsen Rezaei outlined the most significant economic flaws from the perspective of the Supreme Leader, stating that these include dependence on oil, reliance on foreign perspectives, underutilization of the country's human resources, flawed budgeting, and excessive expenditures, which result in unemployment and income poverty. He identified the solution as a resilient economy, which encompasses both endogenous and exogenous aspects, promoting a productive and knowledge-based economy while minimizing government intervention and fostering a people-centered economic approach. Therefore, the upcoming period should be a platform for the active engagement of knowledgeable and committed youth who are well-versed in economic issues.

A member of the Expediency Discernment Council added that this document emphasizes two key aspects of governance: one is jihadist management, and the other is the structures of government.

Dr. Rezaei, while reviewing the historical context of governance, reminded the audience that the issue of governance was first raised during the Tobacco Movement in 1268 (1889). Since that time, two fundamental questions have emerged: how should we govern, and how can we achieve progress? These questions have, in a sense, awakened the people and led to the formation of subsequent movements. Therefore, the issue of governance in Iran is not a new topic.

He reflected on the events from the Tobacco Movement to the victory of the Islamic Revolution, noting that the Islamic Revolution marked the beginning of a fundamental and principled response to the two questions: "How should we govern?" and "How can we achieve progress?"

The Secretary of the Supreme Council for Economic Coordination of the Heads of the Branches added that in terms of governance and progress, we have achieved our goals in the political and defense-security domains. However, in the economic sphere, despite considerable efforts, we still fall short of our lofty objectives.

Dr. Rezaei stated that the important concept of "Revolutionary System Theory" is mentioned in the Second Step of the Revolution statement, which unfortunately has received less attention. He emphasized that the wisdom behind introducing this concept revolves around the question: Has the revolution concluded, or does it continue?

He continued, recalling that Engineer Bazargan declared in the early days of the revolution that it was over and that we had won. This mentality persisted quietly among some until the passing of Imam Khomeini, after which the question was raised again.

Dr. Rezaei added that the Leader of the Revolution's response to this question is that while a system has been established, it must remain revolutionary. Therefore, economic governance cannot occur without revolutionary dynamism, political order, and a people-centered approach. Consequently, the characteristics of the "Revolutionary System Theory" are its social, political, and revolutionary nature.

The Secretary of the Supreme Council for Economic Coordination of the Heads of the Branches outlined three important indicators of governance: leadership, management, and structures. He explained that over the past 30 years, nearly half of the major policies and directives, such as those related to Article 44, resistant economy, and labor, capital, and production, have been in the economic domain. Thus, there is no issue with economic leadership; however, challenges exist in management and structures. Without addressing these problems, we will not achieve optimal economic governance. The solution to this issue lies in initiating a movement to essentially make the economy more people-centered.

Dr. Rezaei added that making the economy more people-centered does not merely mean the presence of the private sector; rather, people can produce even from their homes. In reality, a people-centered economy includes both the active participation of the private sector and the mobilization of the public in the economic field.

He posed the question of why governments have not fully succeeded in advancing the economy to desirable levels. He emphasized that in each government, economic policies have been executed based on the views of certain groups of experts, whereas we need a clear roadmap and strategy in this area.

Dr. Rezai emphasized that one of the most significant issues facing the country's economy is raw material exports, stating, "Raw material exports suppress production and wealth." He continued by addressing another problem in our economy: its reliance on the government, where the state is constantly involved in economic affairs, leaving the people out of the equation. However, it is precisely these people who can solve economic issues.

In conclusion, the member of the Expediency Council referred to the key to the revolution's success, which was reliance on the people. He reminded us that Imam Khomeini emphasized social Islam, and the concept of the Islamic Republic emerged from this belief, thereby making politics more people-centered. The second manifestation of this idea became evident during the war, where the victory was a result of popular involvement in defense. Therefore, for economic governance to succeed today, it must learn the formula of making the economy more participatory.