April 27, 2015 Iran Maddie Ngo, Ashley McComber, Bailey Blair

April 27, 2015

IranMaddie Ngo, Ashley McComber, Bailey Blair

Iran

✤ Sovereignty, Authority, and

Power

✤ Political and Economic Change

✤ Citizens, Society, and the State

✤ Public Policy

✤ Political Institutions

Sovereignty, Authority, and Power

✤ Iran's concept of sovereignty is traced back to the ancient Achemenian

Empire (Persia)✤ The Iranian sovereigns were always hereditary military leaders who

enjoyed royalty. ✤ Zoroastrianism: state sponsored religion that supported the king's

authority. ✤ Although these rulers of empires were not able to centralize power as well

as the Achemenians, they set the authoritarian state.

The Importance of Shiism

✤ Shiism: the brand of Islam that distinguishes Iran from its neighbors

and was established as the state religion in the 16th century by Ismail. ✤ Conflict originated after the religion's founder, Muhammad, died

without a designated heir. The Sunnies favored choosing the caliph

(leader) from the accepted leadership, while the Shiites wanted

leadership to be hereditary and the power to be passed to his son-in-law,

Ali.

✤ Even after numerous invasions, the Islamic faith still continued to be a vital

source of identity for Iranians. ✤ Imams: the descendants of Ali who were the true heirs of Islam. ✤ When Ismail established Iran as a Shiite state, he gave political legitimacy to

the belief that the Hidden Imam would eventually return, but until he did, the

rulers of Iran stood in his place.

Legitimacy in the Modern State

✤ Historical influences still shape the modern state. ✤ Revolution of 1979: led by Khomeini and transformed the legitimacy of the

state, emphasizing the principles of Shiism. ✤ The most important document that legitimizes the state today is the

Constitution of 1979. The constitution and its 40 amendments are a mix of

theocracy and democracy. ✤ Recently, two conflicting ideas—sovereignty of the people and divinely inspired

clerical rule—have created a crisis of legitimacy. ✤ Under Khatami, reformers supported a democratic government while

conservatives under Ahmadinejad endorsed a theocracy.


Political Culture

1. Authoritarianism, not

totalitarianism

2. Union of political and religious

authority

3. Shiism and sharia

4. Geographic limitations

5. The influence of ancient Persia

6. Strong sense of nationalism

7. Escape from European

colonization


✤ No direct European control; Imperialism did not have the same effect on

Iran as Mexico and Nigeria.✤ Compared to all of the other countries, including Nigeria's presidential

and Britain's parliamentary system, Iran is the only theocracy. ✤ Mexico's political culture also shows the importance of religion, but the

government does not revolve around it.

Sovereignty, Authority, and Power: Comparisons

Iranian Timeline:

Political and Economic Change

✤ Four Eras: Safavids, Qajars, Pahlavis, and the Islamic Revolution

and Republic. ✤ Political Change

✤ Iran established itself as the first large empire in world history

with a strong military and centralized governing structures.✤ A gradual separation of religion from politics resulted in

declining centralization of political power before the 20th

century. ✤ Economic Change:

✤ Lack of arable land decreases agricultural development and the

geographical location of Iran emphasizes trade by land. ✤ The success of Iran's economy is dependent on oil.

The Safavids (1501-1722)✤ By the 17th century, the Safavids converted nearly 90% of Iranians

to Shiism. ✤ They tolerated other religions (included Sunnis) because of their

special regard for People of the Book—monotheistic people who

subjected their lives to holy books. ✤ Ruled from Isfahan, a Persian speaking city

✤ Since Isfahan was so far inland, they had little access to sea-

based trade and a lack of arable land. ✤ The Safavid's didn't have enough money for a large bureaucracy or a

standing army, so they relied on local rulers to keep order and collect

taxes. ✤ The Safavids claimed absolute power, but in reality they lacked a

central state.✤ As a result of political and economic factors, the Afghan tribesmen

invaded Isfahan in 1722 and ended the Safavid empire.


The Qajars (1794-1925) ✤ Moved the capital to Tehran and retained Shiism.✤ The Qajars could not tie their legitimacy to the Twelve Imams, unlike

the Safavids, who claimed to be descendants of them.✤ The Shia clerical leaders could claim to be the main

interpreters of Islam.✤ The Qajars ruled during European imperialism and suffered land

losses.✤ They sold oil-drilling rights in the southwest to Britain and they

borrowed heavily from European banks to meet their expenses.

✤ Constitutional Revolution of 1905-1909✤ Began with business owners and bankers protesting against the

Qajars' move to hand over their customs collections to Europeans.✤ Middle-class people were fed up because they believed the shah

would sacrifice paying domestic debts in order to repay European

loans. ✤ The British encouraged the shah to create a written constitution.


✤ Constitution of 1906✤ Modeled after western constitutions and included:

✤ Direct elections✤ Separation of powers✤ Laws made by an elected legislature✤ Popular sovereignty ✤ A Bill of Rights that guaranteed citizens equality before the law,

protections for those accused of crimes, and freedom of

expressions.✤ The new constitution created a strong legislature—the Majiles and

also created the Guardian Council. ✤ Shiism was declared the official state religion, and only Shiites could

hold cabinet positions. ✤ In the 20th century, Iran divided into three parts—one piece for

themselves, another occupied by Russia, and another by Britain

during World War I. ✤ By 1921, Iran was in political and economic disarray.


The Pahlavis (1925-1979)

✤ The Cossack Brigade's commander, Colonel Reza Khan, carried out a

successful coup d'etat in 1921 and declared himself shah-in-shah in

1925. ✤ Under Reza Shah, the Majiles lost its power, and authoritarian rule

was reestablished. ✤ He then turned over his power to his son, Muhammad Reza Shah in

1941. ✤ The second shah experienced democratic opposition from the

communist Tudeh Party and the National Front, which was led by

Muhammad Mosaddeq.✤ Mosaddeq was elected prime minister in 1951 and forced the shah

to flee the country. ✤ The British co-sponsored with the U.S. an overthrow of Mosaddeq,

restoring the shah to full power.


Pahlavis Economics✤ Iran was transformed into a rentier state because of its increasing amount of

income from oil. ✤ The oil income became so great by the 1970s that the government no longer

had to rely on internal taxes. ✤ Although the shah adopted import substitution industrialization, by 1979 oil

and its associated industries made up the majority of Iran's GNP. ✤ Import substitution industrialization: encouraging domestic

industries to provide products that the population needed.

The White Revolution✤ During their rule, the two shahs built a highly centralized state. ✤ White Revolution: focused on land reform, with the government buying land

from large absentee owners and selling it to small farmers at affordable prices. ✤ Purpose was to encourage farmers to become modern entrepreneurs. ✤ Secularized Iran further by extending voting rights to women, restricted

polygamy, and allowed women to work outside the home.


✤ Patronage and the Resurgence

Party✤ Pahlavi Foundation: a patronage

system that controlled large

companies that benefitted the shah

and his supporters. ✤ Resurgence Party: created by

Muhammad Reza Shah in 1975

and declared Iran to be a one-

party state with him as its head. ✤ The shah also created a Religious

Corps, whose job was to teach

Iranian peasants "true Islam."

Reza Shah


The Islamic Revolution and the Republic (1979- Present)

✤ Iran's revolution is unique in that it was almost completely religious in

nature.✤ The shah's behavior disturbed Iranians because he overstepped the

bounds of the political culture in three ways: ✤ He was perceived as being totalitarian.✤ He broke the balance between the secular and the religious state

by secularizing Iran too fast. ✤ His ties to the West offended Iranian nationalists and the clergy.

✤ A clerical elite rose to oppose the shah, lead a revolution, and

eventually take over the government. ✤ Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini was the charismatic leader of the

revolution. ✤ He defended Islamic fundamentalism.✤ He claimed that jurist's guardianship gives the clergy authority

over the entire Shia community.


✤ Two factors brought the revolution: ✤ Oil prices decreased by 10% and consumer prices increased by

about 20%. ✤ The U.S. put pressure on the shah to loosen his restraints on the

opposition. When they spoke, it encouraged others to voice their

frustrations. ✤ Many groups, such as political partiers, labor organizations, and college

students supported the revolution. ✤ The shah's government officially ended on February 11, 1979.✤ The Founding of the Islamic Republic

✤ A constitution was drawn up by the Assembly of Religious Experts. ✤ The constitution gave broad authority to Khomeini and the clergy. ✤ Cultural Revolution: launched by the Shia leaders and aimed to

purify the country from the shah's regime and secular values. ✤ The new government suppressed all opposition, including almost all

groups from civil society.


Post-Khomeini (1989-Present)

✤ After Khomeini's death in 1989, the clerics built their power. Their success and

popular support was the result of several factors: ✤ Iran's economy improved because world petroleum prices rebounded. ✤ Iraq invaded Iran in 1980, starting a war that people rallied behind.✤ The power of Khomeini's presence inspired faith in the government.

✤ The war ended in 1988, oil prices declined during the 1990s, and the people began

to criticize the authoritarian rule of the government. ✤ The conflict between theocratic and democratic values played itself out during the

presidencies of Mohammad Khatami and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. ✤ Mohammad Khatami (1997-2005)

✤ Reformist who believed in a "dialogue among civilizations" that fostered

positive relationships with other countries. ✤ Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (2005-2013)

✤ A conservative who antagonized western countries, but did not isolate

himself from them. He asserted theocratic values and appealed to Iranian

nationalism to solidify his white coup of reformists.


✤ Revolutions in Russia and China revolved around communism and

tried to break away from religion.✤ Mexico and Nigeria both have economy's that evolve around oil, like

Iran.

Political and Economic Change: Comparisons

Citizens, Society, and the State

1. Religion

✤ 90% of all Iranians are Shia Muslims, 10% are Sunni, 1% are a combination of Jews, Christians, Zoroastrian, and Baha’i.

2. Ethnicity:

✤ 51% are Persian, 24% are Azeri, 8% are Gilaki and Mazandarani, 7% are Kurds, 3% are Arabi; and the remaining 7% are a mixture of other groups.

3. Social Class:✤ Peasantry and lower middle class support the regime because they

have benefitted from the government’s social programs.✤ The middle and upper-middle class tend to be highly critical of the

government.

The Five Social Cleavages:

4. Reformers v. Conservatives:✤ Conservatives want to keep the regime under the control of

clerics and sharia law.✤ Reformers would like more secularization and democracy, but

they don’t want to do away with the basic principles of an

Islamic state.

5. Pragmatic conservatives v. radical clerics:

✤ Pragmatic conservatives are clergy who favor liberal economic policies that encourage foreign trade, free markets, and direct foreign investment.

✤ Argue that private property and economic inequality are

protected under Islamic law

✤ Radical clerics are more numerous among younger and more

militant clerics

✤ Call for measures to enhance social justice, especially in terms

of providing welfare benefits to Iran’s poor.


✤ Under the presidency of Khatami, Iranians experienced a “Tehran spring” – a

period of cautious political liberalization, with a loosening of freedom of speech and

press and a more open economy.

✤ However, under Ahmadinejad, the government reversed all the progress made in the

Khatami era; closing down newspapers, banning and censoring books and websites,

and not tolerating peaceful demonstrations.

✤ One indication that civil society was alive and well was Iran’s growing number of

young people.


Civil Society:

Women and the Political System

✤ The Islamic Republic calls its policy toward women “equality-with-difference"

✤ Women must wear scarves and long coats in public, and can’t leave the country without the consent of male relatives.

✤ Women are allowed educations and entrance to at least some occupations, and now constitute about 33% of the total labor force.

✤ Young people and factory workers tend to participate in rallies against the government.

✤ These youthful protestors may be a force for change in the future.

✤ The concerns of factory workers are high unemployment rates, low wages, and unsatisfactory labor laws.

✤ One of the most remarkable protests was the one that followed the election of 2009.

✤ When the results were announced, supporters of opposition candidates to President Ahmadinejad demanded a recount.

✤ The protestors called for the election to be annulled because Ahmadinejad had won 63% of the vote, against the 34% for Mir Hossein Mousavi.


Protests and Demonstrations

Public Policy

✤ Policymaking process in Iran is highly complex because laws can originate in many places (not just legislature), and can also be blocked by other state institutions.

✤ The two most powerful policymaking institutions in Iran are the Majles and the Guardian Council, with the Expediency Council refereeing disputes between the two.

Iran's main policy making institution, the Majiles.

✤ Conservative vs. reformist:

✤ Conservatives:

✤ Uphold principles of regime as set up in 1979, with basis in strict sharia law

✤ Cautious of western influence

✤ Support the right and responsibility of clerics to run the political system

✤ Reformists:

✤ Less wary of western influence, and tend to advocate some degree of international involvement with countries of the West

✤ Support Shiism, but don’t always believe that political leaders have to be clerics.

Public Policy

Policymaking factions:

✤ Statists vs. Free-Marketers

✤ Statists:

✤ Believe that that the government should take an active role in controlling the economy- redistributing land and wealth and financing social welfare programs.

✤ Free-marketers:

✤ Wants to remove price controls, lower business taxes, and encourage private enterprises.

✤ The importance of Qom

✤ Legitimacy of the modern Iranian theocracy has its roots in Qom, a desert city about 60 miles south of Tehran.

✤ It was from Qom that Ayatollah Khomeini began to denounce the shah, and set up his government after returning from his exile in France.

Public Policy

✤ Economic issues

✤ Oil has created a vertical divide in the society, particularly among elites. The main economic problem has been the instability in the price of oil.

✤ Population policy

✤ One major initiative of the government in recent years has been to bring down the overall birthrate in Iran.

✤ After the Revolution of 1979 the population surged because Iranians were encouraged to have large families. Since then, unemployment rates increased.

✤ Foreign affairs

✤ President Rouhani sees the United States and other western countries as permanently in conflict with Iran. He has supported membership in the World Trade Organization.

✤ Nuclear energy

✤ Iran has maintained that the purpose was for the generation of power, not for weapons.

✤ In the past few years, massive economic sanctions have been imposed because of Iran’s nuclear program.

Public Policy

✤ Public Policy:

✤ Environmental Policy:

✤ In Iran, China, and Russia, environmental policy has taken a backseat to economic policy, resulting in severe environmental damage.

✤ China has developed policies to improve the environment, including numerical targets for reducing emissions and conserving energy.

✤ Most of these targets have gone unmet; the leaders of China are “either unwilling or unable to make fundamental changes.”

✤ The government diverted water for the Sivand Dam against the protests of environmental and heritage activists and at the risk of damaging historical sites and natural habitat

✤ Mexico has traded economic development for environmental policy

✤ The PROAIRE program was

✤ created to forge a sense of community participation in preserving the environment and health

Public Policy: Comparisons

✤ Citizens, Society, and the State

✤ Literacy Rate Comparisons

✤ Iran:

✤ Males: 89.3%

✤ Females: 80.7%

✤ China:

✤ Males: 97.5%

✤ Females: 82.7%

✤ Mexico:

✤ Males: 94.8%

✤ Females: 92.8%

✤ Nigeria:

✤ Males: 72.1%

✤ Females: 50.4%

✤ Russia: Males: 99.7%

✤ Females: 99.6%

✤ United Kingdom:

✤ Males: 99%

✤ Females: 99%

Political Institutions

✤ Guardian Council✤ Consists of 12 jurists✤ Authority to interpret the

constitution and

determines if the laws

passed by the Majiles are

in line with Sharia law.✤ Examines presidential

and parliamentary

candidates.

✤ Supreme Leader

✤ He is the top of Iran’s power structure; the current Supreme Leader is Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who succeeded Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

✤ According to Iran’s Constitution, the Supreme Leader has the ability to:

✤ Act as the faqih, or the leading Islamic jurist to interpret sharia law.

✤ Elimination of presidential candidates

✤ Dismissal of the president

✤ Command of the armed forces

✤ Declaration of war and peace

✤ Appointment and removal of major administrators and judges.

✤ Nomination of six members of the Guardian Council

✤ Appointment of many non-governmental directors.

✤ Act as the head of state.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei


✤ President

✤ Chief executive and the second highest state official.

✤ He is democratically elected and acts as head of government.

✤ Powers include:

✤ Devising the budget

✤ Supervising economic matters

✤ Proposing legislation to the Majiles

✤ Executing policies

✤ Signing treaties, laws, and agreements

✤ Chairing the National Security Council

✤ Selecting vice presidents and cabinet ministers

✤ Appointing provincial governors, town mayors, and ambassadors

Hassan Rouhani


✤ The Majiles

✤ Has the power to enact or change laws

✤ Interprets legislation

✤ Appoints 6 of the 12 members of the Guardian Council

✤ Removes and investigates cabinet members

✤ Approves the budget, cabinet appointments, treaties, and loans

✤ Assembly of Religious Experts

✤ Consists of 86 clerics that are elected by the people and have eight year terms.

✤ The Guardian Council determines who can run for a seat in the assembly.

✤ Members of the Assembly elect the supreme leader from within their own ranks and periodically reconfirm him.

✤ They have never opposed a decision made by the Supreme leader.


✤ Expediency Council✤ Ayatollah Khomeini created the Council in 1988.✤ The Council is charged with mediating disputes between the two

bodies.✤ According to the constitution, the Expediency Council serves as an

advisory body to the Supreme Leader, making it one of the most

powerful bodies in the Iranian government, at least in writing.✤ The majority of the members are conservative and usually side with

the Guardian Council.

✤ The Bureaucracy

✤ The President heads the huge bureaucracy that has expanded over the years to provide jobs for college and high school graduates.

✤ The clergy dominates the bureaucracy, just as it controls the presidency.


✤ Judiciary✤ The Supreme Leader appoints the head of the judiciary, who in turn

appoints the head of the Supreme Court and the Chief public

prosecutor.✤ The two types of law are:

✤ Sharia: Islamic law that is considered to be the foundation of all

Islamic civilization. ✤ Qanun: has no sacred basis, but is a body of statutes made by

legislative bodies. ✤ The Military

✤ Khomeini established the Revolutionary Guards, an elite military

force whose commanders are appointed by the supreme leader.✤ The regular army defends the borders, while the Guards protect the

republic.✤ The Basij is a loosely-organzied military that is formally a part of the

Revolutionary Guards.✤ Gained international attention after Moussavi accused the Basij of

brutality as it contained the protests of the 2009 presidential

election.


✤ Executive Of Construction Party: if was founded by a number of

cabinet members of Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. The party is a

reformist party.✤ Islamic Coalition Party (ICP): Was formed in 1963, a coalition of

local Islamic clubs, conservative bazaar merchants, and clerics.✤ Islamic Iran Developers Council: this group, which is not

registered as a party, appeared before the February 2003 municipal

elections. It won control of 14 of the 15 seats in Tehran.✤ Islamic Iran Participation Front: This party was founded by the

supports and allies of former president Mohammad Khatami including

his brother, which served as the secretary-general of the party of

many years.✤ Islamic Iran Solidarity Party: this party was established in 2000 by

Ebrahim Asquarzadeh who was formerly among the Followers of

Imam’s Line Students.✤ Islamic Labor party: this party can be viewed as a political branch of

another entity called the workers house, which was a very influential

left wing group.


✤ The Elections of 2004 and 2008

✤ Took place after the Guardian Council banned thousands of candidates from running, mainly reformist parties. Out of a possible 285 seats, reformist parties could only introduce 191 candidates.

✤ Conservatives were able to dominate seats in the Majiles.

✤ The Election of 2009

✤ Protests erupted after Ahmadinejad won.

✤ Mass Media

✤ Over 20 newspapers were shut down after the revolution.

✤ In 1981 the Majiles passed a law making it a crime to write negatively about the government.

✤ Some of these bans have been lifted since the early 90s.

✤ The government still has a close reign of mass media and filters what the public hears.


✤ In most other countries, like China and Britain, religion doesn’t play a significant political role in government. Iran, however, is a mix of theocracy and democracy and bases its laws on Islamic principles.

✤ Like China though, Iran has many sections of government or layers, creating a layer system of government. This could be said for Nigeria but in negative light, since their layered system is causing negative effects.

✤ Iran’s head of state has a significant amount of power, just like Russia’s head of state.

Political Institutions: Comparison

Documents

April 27, 2015 Iran Maddie Ngo, Ashley McComber, Bailey Blair