MATSUSHITA Satoshi
| MATSUSHITA Satoshi |
| [Belonging・Position] | Middle Eastern and South Asian Studies Group, Area Studies Center |
| [Research Field] | Regional Studies(Middle East, Iran), Comparative Politics (Authoritarian regimes), Clientelism |
| [email] |
Satoshi_Matsushita 
|
| Japanese page |
Previous research
From the perspective of comparative politics, I have explored the puzzle of why the current Iranian regime has been able to maintain its robust authoritarian system for more than 40 years in the face of violent protest movements. In my research, I have had the privilege of examining primary documents collected in the field, including relevant laws and regulations, official gazettes, and newspapers. My research suggests that the gradual institutionalization of patronage networks within the country plays a crucial role in maintaining the unity of its political elite and co-opting ordinary people.
Current research projects
While I remain committed to my research on clientelism in Iran, I am exploring the possibility of expanding my research to include two additional perspectives. By doing so, I aim to unveil the reality of the electoral authoritarianism in Iran.
First, I want to clarify the roles that the political elites and the ordinary people who support the regime play in the patronage distribution network, and the effectiveness of their actions in maintaining the stability of the regime. I hope to deepen my understanding of the dynamism of Iranian electoral politics and contribute to the development of general theories of comparative politics regarding electoral authoritarianism.
Second, I hope to better understand the reality of Iranian politics, given that the political positions of the domestic political elite are pluralistic. In my future research, I will analyze the domestic policy-making process by focusing on the actors, interest structures, and political institutions involved in the political game concerning the most important policy decisions in running a country, such as budgeting and foreign policy.