This research paper focuses on the notion of institutionalization of state religion through educational institution in the Islamic context from socio-demographic perspective. Despite the existence of a large body of literature arguing the substantial role of Islamic authorities’ socialization mechanisms, especially educational institution in the formation of religious identity, the argument has not enjoyed sufficiently supportive research-based evidence in the existing literature. This study aims to contribute filling this research gap, through its empirical research results presented and discussed in this paper. This paper particularly addresses whether educational institution operates as a mechanism of democratic socialization or is utilized to institutionalize state religion. The field of this study is the Islamic Republic of Iran. According to the results of this study, the first major observations support religious priority, suggesting that the overwhelming representation of religious and Islamic characteristics exists throughout state’s educational resources analyzed in this study. Furthermore, the results of this study develop significantly and support empirically the notion that the real influence of educational institution is determined by ideology and power relations. In sum, the overwhelming under-representation of ‘others’ not only casts doubt on democratic socialization process but also supports the institutionalization of state religion through educational institution in this Islamic context.
