The Necessity of Policy Labs for Governance in the Future of Iran and Its Social Implications

Document Type : Research Article

Author

Department of Socio-Cultural Governance, Faculty of Governance, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

10.22059/jisr.2025.376844.1507

Abstract

Policy labs are widely recognized as essential instruments for policy design. The primary concentration of these laboratories is social issues, and they operate globally in a dynamic and active manner. This study aims to investigate the social repercussions of policy labs by utilizing theories of public sociology and communicative action. It underscores the importance of rational and socially responsive governance for the future of Iran.
The research follows a descriptive-analytical approach and employs autoethnographic techniques to bolster the credibility of its arguments.
The findings indicate that policy labs function as boundary-spanning entities, functioning as intersections between academia, policymaking, and the public sphere. Their objective is to encourage public participation in decision-making processes and to promote consensus through reasoned argumentation by promoting communicative rationality. The study emphasizes that the social implications of policy labs in Iran include the following: the enhancement of foresight and strategic thinking, the assessment of the social impact of policies, the promotion of participatory governance, the strengthening of the social dimensions of policies, and the provision of timely policy responses to public issues. Additionally, policy labs offer a platform for pragmatic decision-making that is consistent with the governance system’s capabilities.
This article contends that policy labs serve as instruments for rational governance and effective problem-solving, thereby improving the adaptability and efficiency of governance structures. Therefore, it is imperative that policymakers acknowledge policy labs as a critical element of public discourse, incorporating social considerations in addition to economic and political factors within the governance process.

Keywords

References

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