The Islamic Coalition Party) from 1963 to 1979 and "Islamic Coalition Society" ( fa, جمعیت مؤتلفه اسلامی, jamʿiyat-e moʾtalefe-ye eslâmi) from 1979 to 2004. (ICP; fa, حزب مؤتلفه اسلامی, ḥezb-e moʾtalefe-ye eslāmi) is a

conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy that seeks to promote and to preserve traditional institutions, practices, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civilization in ...

political party in

Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...

that favors

economic liberalism Economic liberalism is a political and economic ideology that supports a market economy based on individualism and private property in the means of production. Adam Smith is considered one of the primary initial writers on economic liberali ...

. The party is the pivotal organization within Front of Followers of the Line of the Imam and the Leader and is considered a lay ally of the influential Combatant Clergy Association. Though still very active and influential, the organization experienced a gradual elimination from political power after rise of new conservative rivals in the 2000s and some analysts dismiss it as something of a dinosaur heading for extinction. One of the oldest among the active parties in Iran, it represents older generations of conservatives and its main base of support is among '' bazaari'' merchants and shopkeepers in Grand Bazaar of Tehran and other cities, ''

petite bourgeoisie ''Petite bourgeoisie'' (, literally 'small bourgeoisie'; also anglicised as petty bourgeoisie) is a French term that refers to a social class composed of semi-autonomous peasants and small-scale merchants whose politico-economic ideological st ...

'' and traditionalist clerics. It is probably the only political organization in Iran which possesses an organic relation with such a social base. Since 1979, the party members have held high government offices and are influential players in the

economy of Iran The economy of Iran is a mixed economy with a large state-owned sector and is the largest in the Middle East in terms of nominal GDP. It is the world's 21st largest by purchasing power parity (PPP). Some 60% of Iran's economy is centrally pla ...

, dominating Iran Chamber of Commerce Industries and Mines (ICCIM) and having "a say in the appointment of the

minister of commerce A Commerce minister (sometimes business minister, industry minister, trade minister or international trade minister) is a position in many governments that is responsible for regulating external trade and promoting economic growth (commercial polic ...

". The party has also interactions with Mostazafan Foundation,

Imam Khomeini Relief Foundation The Imam Khomeini Relief Foundation (Persian: کمیته‌ی امداد امام خمینی) is an Iranian charitable organization, founded in March 1979 to provide support for poor families. The aim is to help such families regain financial stabi ...

and Mashhad-based

Astan Quds Razavi Astan Quds Razavi ( fa, آستان قدس رضوی, Āstān-e Qods-e Razavi) is a bonyad based at Mashhad, Iran. It is the administrative organization which manages the Imam Reza shrine and various institutions which belong to the organization. ...

. The party has affiliated parochial schools for boys and girls.

History

It played a vital role in the success of the

Iranian Revolution The Iranian Revolution ( fa, انقلاب ایران, Enqelâb-e Irân, ), also known as the Islamic Revolution ( fa, انقلاب اسلامی, Enqelâb-e Eslâmī), was a series of events that culminated in the overthrow of the Pahlavi dyna ...

. Following the revolution, it reduced its activities many members joined the

Islamic Republic Party The Islamic Republican Party (IRP; fa, حزب جمهوری اسلامی, Ḥezb-e Jomhūrī-e Eslāmī, also translated Islamic Republic Party) formed in 1979 to assist the Iranian Revolution and Ayatollah Khomeini establish theocracy in Iran. ...

as leading members, resuming its activities after the latter's dissolution in 1987. The party had some 90 parliamentary seats in 2006, according to Mohsen Sazegara.

International affairs

Islamic Coalition Party has an office for its international affairs headed by Mehdi Soli, succeeding Hamidreza Taraghi. The party held a forum on unity of Islamic parties in 2015, participated by Hezbollah among others. It sent congratulations to the 12th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam and also maintains good relationships with the

Communist Party of China The Chinese Communist Party (CCP), officially the Communist Party of China (CPC), is the founding and sole ruling party of the People's Republic of China (PRC). Under the leadership of Mao Zedong, the CCP emerged victorious in the Chinese Civil ...

, as well as the

Workers' Party of Korea The Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) is the founding and sole ruling party of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, commonly known as North Korea. Founded in 1949 from the merger of the Workers' Party of North Korea and the Workers' Party ...

and

government of North Korea In the North Korean government, the Cabinet is the administrative and executive body. The North Korean government consists of three branches: administrative, legislative, and judicial. However, they are not independent of each other, but all b ...

.* *

Party leaders

Notes

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Islamic Coalition Party 1963 establishments in Iran Political parties established in 1963 Principlist political groups in Iran Political parties of the Iranian Revolution Shia Islamist groups Far-right political parties Right-wing parties Militant opposition to the Pahlavi dynasty