An Introduction to the Role of the Basij Doctrine in the Internal Transformation of Pre-Revolutionary Structures(A Case Study of the Headquarters for Addressing the Situation of War Victims and the Wounded)

Basij is a familiar concept in the literature of social transformations and revolutions, recognized as one of the components that shape and drive revolutions. However, in the Islamic Revolution of Iran, Basij not only played a role in the stage of evolution and metamorphosis but also, at every stage of political and social life, the Basij of people and their presence has played a role in solving problems and the ongoing course of life. This presence became more prominent in critical situations, as the integration of society showcased the enigma of creating solidarity to overcome natural and artificial crises, from floods and earthquakes to war and terror, and legitimized it.
In the literature of the Islamic Revolution, Basij owes its origins to the thought of Imam Khomeini (RA), and before and after the revolution, the declarations and calls of the Leader of the Revolution accelerated and facilitated processes. For example, the imposed war was one of the important crises of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which was resolved by the Imam’s (RA) wisdom and the presence of Basij in various forms. Basij in the form of military presence in the imposed war is the most obvious form of this institutionalized organization, although each of the revolutionary institutions, in its own way, presented a manifestation of Basij. What has been less addressed so far is the role of Basij in the internal transformation of pre-revolutionary structures, such as Academic Jihad or self-sufficiency Jihad in various departments and organizations left over from the former regime. One of these internal transformations in pre-revolutionary structures is the Headquarters for Addressing the Situation of the Wounded and Injured of the Imposed War, which was voluntarily organized based on Basij in the Ministry of Health at the time, on the eve of the imposed war.
This paper aims, based on the experience of the Headquarters for Addressing the Situation of the Wounded and Injured of the Ministry of Health, to identify the presence of people in the form of basij in post-revolutionary structures and show that many of the challenges and problems of the Islamic Republic system can still be solved only by relying on Basij.