This research aims to comparatively analyze the “Islamic Progress Model” and the “Western Development Paradigm.” Having Emphasied the limitations of Western development paradigms, which mainly focus on material and economic indicators, the article seeks to explain the necessity of presenting an alternative model based on a monotheistic worldview. The Western development paradigm, having its roots in humanism, secularism, and liberalism, has exacerbated crises such as structural inequality, environmental degradation, and spiritual alienation by reducing human beings to “economic entities.” In contrast, the Islamic Progress Model is based on four fundamental principles: absolute divine ownership, divine guidance (both genetic and legislative), the status of humans as God’s vicegerents, and responsible resource management. The ultimate goal of this model is the realization of “goodly life” (“hayÁt Ôayyibah”) and the attainment of “divine proximity.” The overarching strategies of this model include monotheistic education, the synergy of spirituality and justice, and supporting institutions: family, Islamic governance, and public participation. The comparative analysis highlights structural differences in the role of the state (guiding activity versus a minimalist state), economics (resistance-based and justice-oriented versus profit-oriented), and culture (monotheistic centricity versus instrumentalism). This research concludes that the Islamic Progress Model, relying on monotheistic foundations, is not only a theoretical alternative but also an efficient framework for reconstructing Islamic-Iranian identity. The realization of this model requires the expansion of interdisciplinary research, the design of indigenous indicators, and the strengthening of religious-social institutions.
IzÁnloo,O . (2025). The Islamic Progress Model versus the Western Development Paradigm: A Comparative Analysis of Philosophical Foundations, Strategies, Structures, and C. Islamic Government, 30(2), 161-189.
MLA
IzÁnloo,O . "The Islamic Progress Model versus the Western Development Paradigm: A Comparative Analysis of Philosophical Foundations, Strategies, Structures, and C", Islamic Government, 30, 2, 2025, 161-189.
HARVARD
IzÁnloo O. (2025). 'The Islamic Progress Model versus the Western Development Paradigm: A Comparative Analysis of Philosophical Foundations, Strategies, Structures, and C', Islamic Government, 30(2), pp. 161-189.
CHICAGO
O IzÁnloo, "The Islamic Progress Model versus the Western Development Paradigm: A Comparative Analysis of Philosophical Foundations, Strategies, Structures, and C," Islamic Government, 30 2 (2025): 161-189,
VANCOUVER
IzÁnloo O. The Islamic Progress Model versus the Western Development Paradigm: A Comparative Analysis of Philosophical Foundations, Strategies, Structures, and C. Islamic Government. 2025;30(2):161-189 (In Persian).
