AP Comparative Politics Iran

“This is the voice of Iran, the voice of the true Iran, the voice of the Islamic Revolution.” – February 11, 1979 See this as beginning of great conflict between West and Islamic civilizations that ended in 9/11 But society is complex – pull between theocracy and secularization Only theocracy left in world; 2nd largest oil producer in Middle East and 4th largest in the world

Sovereignty, Authority, and Power – 1 of 2 Early On… Traced to Achemenian Empire and Cyrus Clashed with Greece – its greatest rival Both conquered by Alexander the Great but he left Persian political structure in place Iran’s sovereigns were hereditary military leaders supported by strong military and state-sponsored religion – Zoroastrianism Shi’ism Arabs brought Islam – even when conquered by Mongols kept religion survived Shi’ism state religion 16th century – in place by Safavid Empire’s Ismail Waiting for Hidden Imam to return Modern State Authoritarianism continued under Pahlavi shahs and then Ayatollah Khomeini Revolution of 1979 anchored legitimacy of the state in Shi’ism Constitution of 1979 – includes jurist’s guardianship Idea of sovereignty of the people and divinely inspired clerical law have created crisis of legitimacy – reflected in clerics in Qom interpretation of law

Sovereignty, Authority, and Power – 2 of 2 Political Culture – separation of religion and politics happened under Qajars – culture characterized by: Authoritarianism, but not totalitarianism Union of political and religious authority Shi’ism and sharia as central components – 90% are Shi’ites; sharia important source of legitimacy Escape from European colonization Geographic limitations Influence of ancient Persia Strong sense of Iranian Nationalism – Iranians 1st , then Muslims

Political and Economic Change – 1 of 3 The Safavids (1501 – 1722) Converted people to Shi’ism Had respect for “people of the book” Had serious economic constraints: trade routes broken up, world trade shifted to Indian and Atlantic Oceans, capital Isfahan little access to sea-based trade, lack of arable land Problems affected ability to rule and they had little money: had to rely on local rulers; clerics lived outside of their reach; monarchy became separated from society and lost power The Qajars (1794 – 1925) Moved capital to Tehran, retained Shi’ism, separation between government and religion widened Lost land to Russia and Britain, borrowed from foreign banks, shah in debt, Iranians upset and led to Constitutional Revolution 1905 – 1909, shah pressed by British to concede Provided for direct elections, separation of powers, popular sovereignty, Bill of Rights, created a Majles to balance executive power, created Guardian Council WWII put Iran in political and economic disarray

Political and Economic Change – 2 of 3 The Pahlavis (1925 – 1979) – created highly centralized state Colonel Reza Khan used Cossack Brigade to carry out coup d'état 1925 declared shah-in-shah Majles lost power, authoritarianism reestablished Turned power over to son Muhammad Reza Shah 1941 Faced opposition from Tudeh Party and National Front (led by Muhammad Mosaddeq) who wanted to nationalize oil from – Mosaddeq’s power grew and Shah fled 1953 but CIA overthrew Mosaddeq to keep pro-US presence in Middle East Rentier state that began import substitution industrialization Courts secularized and began White Revolution Created Pahlavi Foundation – patronage system – and created Resurgence Party as only party Islamic Revolution and the Republic (1979 – present) Almost completely religious, created theocracy, happened because shah upset the people because he was perceived as being totalitarian, he secularized Iran too much, he had ties to the west

Political and Economic Change – 3 of 3 Almost completely religious, created theocracy, happened because shah upset the people because he was perceived as being totalitarian, he secularized Iran too much, he had ties to the west Khomeini was charismatic, defended fundamentalism, created velayat-e-faqih (jurist’s guardianship) – gives clergy authority overall everyone in the Shi’i community Two factors brought revolution: revolution of rising expectations and US put pressure on Shaw to loosen his restraints April 1979 referendum held, voted out monarchy, constitution drawn up by Assembly of Religious Experts November 1979 – Iranian hostage crisis began Clerics cemented power under popular support until 1989 because oil prices, rose, Iraq invaded Iran, Khomeini was charismatic 1989 Ali Khamenei took over – not same personality or credentials, many questioned his authority, Iran-Iraq War ended, oil prices dropped – caused conflict Khatami (1997 – 2005) was a reformist vs. Ahmadinejad (2005 – present) is a conservative – has had white coup of reformists

Citizens, Society, and the State – 1 of 2 Cleavages Religion Ethnicity Social Class Reformers vs. Conservatives Pragmatic conservatives v. radical clerics Civil Society Source of unhappiness under Pahlavi was incursion into private lives, hasn’t ended and causes discontent among middle class especially Khatami – faced “Tehran Spring” with cautious political liberalization Ahmadinejad – ended liberalization policies, arrests, no protests, censorship But it is still alive – especially among the young – who are attracted to western popular culture

Citizens, Society, and the State – 2 of 2 Political Participation Due process has been ignored But Republic’s actions against public demonstrations hasn’t curtailed them, especially on college campuses Youth is force for change in Iran – ½ of population born since 1979 2009 protests for Mir-Hossein Mousavi – had to be squashed by tens of thousands of Revolutionary Guards and voluntary militiamen called Basij Women and the Political System Educated women harbor resentment toward the regime: education had led to them to expect better than they have been granted Sharia narrowly interpreted to aid men Follow “equality-with-difference” Are not well represented in Majles

Political Institutions – 1 of 5 Theocracy – Supreme Leader, Guardian Council, Expediency Council Democracy – president, Assembly of Religious Experts, Majles Unitary and unicameral Political Parties Alliance of Builders of Islamic Iran – Ahmadinejad's party; conservative coalition Iranian Reform Movement – reformist parties; sometimes called Khordad Front – Khatami and Mir-Houssein Mousavi’s party Etemad-e Melli Party – pragmatic reformists Liberation Movement, National Front, Tudeh, Mojahedin, and Fedayin banned Party system reflects factionalism Elections Majles and presidency is winner take all, no proportional representation Two rounds so that one person gets majority

Political Institutions – 2 of 5 Elections – continued Majles Elections of 2004 and 2008 – many reformists banned; low voting rates by reformists Presidential election 2005 – 7 ran, came down to Rafsanjani and Ahmadinejad – Ahmadinejad won overall Presidential elections 2009 – charges of fraud, record numbers voted, Moussavi appealed to Guardian Council but Supreme Leader sided with Ahmadinejad, many were arrested and Moussavi portrayed as tool of secular foreigners Interest Groups Many are banned but work in exile Worker’s House important interest group for factory workers Few have formed for business because private business crowded out since 1979 Mass Media Radio and TV are government run by IRIB but many newspapers and magazines are privately owned

Political Institutions – 3 of 5 Government Institutions Jurist’s Guardianship – do not follow division of power: all have broad executive, legislative, and judicial powers that allow them to supersede all other positions and bodies and has a dual executive Supreme Leader – top of government, head of state, imam of all, has many powers but first and foremost he is the faqih (leading Islamic jurist) to interpret the meaning of religious documents and sharia law; holds ultimate power Guardian Council – 12 clerics, 6 appointed by Supreme Leader and 6 approved by Majles, reviews bills passed by Majles to ensure conformity with sharia law, decides who competes in elections Assembly of Religious Experts – 86 man house, directly elected by people every 4 years – like the College of Cardinals Expediency Council – referees disputes between Majles and Guardian Council – 32 members – most powerful men in Iran

Political Institutions – 4 of 5 Executive President - Not like USA president, but is highest state official after Leader, directly elected every 4 years, limited to 2 terms, must be a Shi’ite Cabinet – conducts day to day operations Bureaucracy – doubled since 1979, clergy dominate it Semipublic Institutions – called foundations, are tax exempt, have lots of money Legislature Majles has been weakened since 1989 Constitution but still has important powers 290 seats all directly elected through single member districts Judiciary Headed by chief justice and must be a cleric, appointed to 5 year term by Leader; beneath him is Supreme Court who are all clerics also Have two types of law: sharia and qanun Judicial review exists but ultimate authority lays in sharia and not the Constitution Islamized judiciary code with strict interpretation, has lessened some

Political Institutions – 5 of 5 Military Revolutioanry Guards created 1979 by Khomeini – elite military force Surpeme Leader is commander in chief Has Basij – loosely-organized military that is part of Revolutionary Guards – comes out from civilian volunteers and is basically a militia Must of the military is secret; many former Guards sit in Majles and seem to have some of their own strength to act alone

Public Policy Two most powerful policy making institutions in Iran are the Majles and the Guardian Council with Expediency Council refereeing disputes Have two types of factions – these disputes have brought gridlock and instability Conservative vs. reformists Statists vs. free-marketers Importance of Qom – legitimacy of modern Iranian theocracy has roots in Qom, a city of seminaries, some scholars there are NOT entirely comfortable with theocratic state Economic Issues – oil has created vertical divide in society, main problem plaguing them is instability of oil prices Population Policy – population post-1979 surged, have worked to lower fertility rate Foreign affairs and Nuclear Energy – axis of evil , cold to west