March 31 – Iranian Paradox Agenda: Country Briefs Notes: Iranian Paradox Video: Iran Homework: Page: 389 - 398 Take out: Pen/Pencil Country Briefs Notebook Notes on Iran

Things to Pay Attention To Themes: Impact of Islamic Revolution of 1979 Conflict among political elite over country’s course Real political competition Impact of Political culture Democratic influences Theocratic/Islamic influences How power is exercised Who Revolutionary Guard Basiji Using what institutions? Informal? Elite (and fractures) Clerics Factions

Things to Pay Attention To Problems: Economic misdistribution Political corruption Relationship with the West Citizen and State Relationship Participation Political cleavages (and how the power elite plays into it!)

Iran – General Information Population: 76,420,000 Capital: Tehran President: Hassan Rouhani Supreme leader: Ali Khamenei Official language: Persian Government: Unitary state, Islamic republic, Theocracy (…It’s Complicated)

Comparison - Size

The Paradox of Iran Like a Persian carpet, Iran is complicated, multi-layered, and complex.

Islam 1 billion adherents Means “submission to God” Five Pillars 1. Iman (Faith) “There is no god worthy of worship except God, and Muhammad is His messenger” (Shahadah) 2. Salat (Prayer) 5 times a day facing Mecca 3. Zakah—Give to charity 4. Sawm—Fast during Ramadan (when God revealed the Qur’an to Mohammed) 5. Hajj—Pilgrimage to Mecca once in life

The Iranian Paradox Paradox – 2 things that seem opposite but somehow work together Look for the paradoxes present in life in Iran. Political culture Political cleavages

Islam Sunni Shi’ite “Followers of tradition” Majority of Muslims worldwide Sunnis recognized the early dynasties that ruled the Islamic empire after Muhammad (d. 632) Voted on leader Shi’ite “Partisans of Ali” Less than 10% of Muslims worldwide Iran is the Shi’a epicenter Shi’ites believe that after the Prophet died, his authority should have been passed on to Imam Ali and his descendants “Hidden Imam”

Population 76.4 million 30 million added since the Revolution Iran’s young population will create economic pressures

Impact of Geography The north leans more to the left, due to its exposure to communism The eastern borders are more conservative Tehran is more developed, at the expense of poor and rural areas 1000 people/day migrate to Tehran

The Economy Over-reliance on oil created a rentier state 90% of revenue comes from oil Iran is vulnerable to the global market Subsidies are a drag on the economy Iran needs to diversify

Urbanization 65% of the population lives in urban areas Population growth will have repercussions There is sex education, condoms

Education 1/3 of all Iranians are students Students are politically active and cause problems for the state Women benefit from education

The Media Thriving cinema and translation industry Investigative journalism A paradox: a repressive regime with intellectual property

Iran’s Predicament The state has lost some legitimacy, but there are no serious challenges to its authority Class disparities have increased The young population will create economic pressure in the future The clergy will be faced with having to “deliver the goods”