Islam and Political Accommodation in Sudan Nairobi, Kenya 22–23 November 2014 Islam and governance in iran Dr Farhang Morady University of Westminster

contents General information State Institutions Elections and Parties Policy-Making Factions

Theoretical Approaches Orientalism / Essentialism: static nature of politics, economics and society Compatibility of Islam, Democracy and Authoritarianism Resources curse Geopolitics, regional and global power

General Information Middle East Europe Asia Africa

General Information Caspian Sea Persian Gulf

Religion 89% of Iranians are Shi’a Muslims 10% are Sunni Muslim The constitution does not mention Sunnis and their legal status is therefore unrecognized. 1% are a combination of Jews, Christians, Zoroastrians, and Baha’i The constitution recognizes rights of religious minorities, but many religious minorities have left the country since the Islamic Revolution. Baha’I’s are considered an unholy offshoot of Islam

Ethnicity 51% Persian (speak Farsi) 26% Azeri 8% Gilaki & Mazandarani Live mostly in the northwest close to Azerbaijan, Azeri’s do not speak Farsi, they are mostly Shi’ite 8% Gilaki & Mazandarani 7% Kurds Predominantly Sunni 3% Arab 2% Baluchi 3% Others

Structure of Power

State Institutions Supreme Leader Chosen by the Assembly of Religious Experts The faqih – leading Islamic jurist to interpret religious documents and the sharia Powers Eliminate presidential candidates Dismissal of the president Commander of the armed forces Declares war and peace Appoints many administrators and judges Nominates up to 6 members to Guardian Council Appoints heads of other agencies, like broadcasters Head of State with real power

State Institutions: Guardian Council 12 male clerics 6 appointed by the Supreme Leader 6 nominated by the Chief Judge, approved by Majles Review bills passed by Majles to ensure they comply with the sharia law May disqualify candidates for election as part of their jurist guardianship (along with Supreme Leader)

State Institutions: Assembly of Religious Experts 88 men elected by the citizens every 4 years Candidates may still be rejected by the Guardian Council The Supreme Leader and Guardian Council are in charge of constitutional interpretation Choose a successor to the Supreme Leader, and can remove him as well

State Institutions: Expediency Council Referee disputes between the Guardian Council and Parliament (Majles) Started smaller, has grown to 38 members Has gained the power to originate legislation Collection of the most powerful men in Iran, including: High ranking clerics President Chief Judge Speaker of Majles Members of the Guardian Council

State Institutions: President and Cabinet Head of government Elected every 4 years by voters, may serve 2 terms Must be a “pious Shiite” Powers Devise the budget Supervise economic matters Propose legislation to the Majles Executing the law/policies Signs treaties and laws Chairs the National Security Council Appoints cabinet and other provincial officials

State Institutions: Bureaucracy Expanded rapidly to include new ministries: Culture and Islamic Guidance – censors the media and Internet Intelligence – chief security organization Heavy Industry – manages nationalized factories Reconstruction – spreads Islam to the countryside Dominated by clergy and their relatives

State Institutions: Foundations “Autonomous” but run by appointees of the Supreme Leader Charitable and religious foundations Tax exemption Own property confiscated from pre-1979 elite Use wealth to do “charitable work” to build regime support

State Institutions: Parliament (Majles) Legislature 290 seats directly elected by the citizens every 4 years Powers Pass laws with approval of Guardian Council Interpret legislation, without contradiction of judiciary Approve 6 members to Guardian Council nominated by Chief Judge Investigate misconduct of bureaucracy and judiciary Remove cabinet members Approve the budget, cabinet, treaties, and loans

State Institutions: Parliament (Majles)

Elections and Parties Post-revolutionary parties Islamic Republican Party Factionalism Ideological differences became the basis of factional politics

Factionalism / distribution of power 3 major factions: Conservatives, Pragmatists and Reformists, Correlate to social classes: Modern middle class, working class close to reformists and pragmatists Lower working class, peasants and traditional middle class close to Conservative

Public Policy: Policy-Making Factions Conservatives Contradictory influences of theocracy & democracy Uphold principles of the regime established in 1979 Against too much modernization Anxious at western influence Political & religious decisions should be synonymous Support the right of clerics to run the political system Pragmatists/Reformists / Green M Political system needs reform Degree of international involvement with western countries Shi’ism is an important basis of Iranian society Political leaders do not have to be clerics

Public Policy: Policy-Making Factions Statists Government should have active role in the economy Not necessarily communists Policy goals include: Finance Social Welfare Programs for supporters Price restrictions on consumer goods Free-marketers Market principles as in the US, but in a theocratic/democratic state Liberal Economic Policies Remove price controls Lower business taxes Encourage private enterprise Balance the budget

Public Policy Majority of policy differences among factions stem from the “theocratic vs. democratic” debate Policy issues have recently led to a drain of the “best & brightest” from Iran due to frustration with government Policy-making factional disagreements over relationship with US & economic issues Economic and ideological interest

Political conflicts Highly unstable party system, changes around personalities – coalitions form and break apart regularly - but in the last election: Moderation and Development Party – Hassan Rouhani’s reformist party, won 50.8% in first round

Conclusion Dynamics Contestation Accommodation Very vibrant politics from within and between Islamists - clerical and non- clerical Accommodation survival of the regime has been about accommodation to domestic, regional, and global situation