STUDENT NOTES - 1

recognizes principles of popular sovereignty and separation of powers Islamic Republic of Iran created by Revolution of 1979 (1) first religious revolution in modern history (2) culminated in rapid downfall of a powerful, long-standing autocratic regime (3) used religion as the primary agency of political mobilization (4) establishment of a theocracy in late 20th century, infused with strong democratic elements Blending of theocratic and democratic features in Iran’s constitution split legitimacy recognizes principles of popular sovereignty and separation of powers but, legitimacy also rests on conformity to a revealed body of religious law

Overview: The Big Picture System of Government: Mixed Theocratic-Presidential System Distribution of Power: Unitary System Electoral System: SMDP Constitution: Constitution of 1979 Legislature: Unicameral—Majles Current Head of State: Ayatollah Ali Khanenei, Supreme Leader Head of Government: Hassan Rouhani Major Political Parties: “conservatives”, “pragmatists”, and “radicals”

Country Bio: Iran 76 million 636,296 sq. miles 550 B.C. Population: 76 million Territory: 636,296 sq. miles Year of Independence: 550 B.C. Year of Current Constitution: 1979, amended in 1989 Language: Persian, regional languages Religion: Twelver Shiite Muslim 90%, Sunni Muslim 10%, non-Muslims less than 1%

Sovereignty, Authority, and Power Constitutional Revolution (1905-1909) Constitution of 1906 Direct elections Separation of powers Laws made by elected legislature Very strong – controlled cabinet members Popular sovereignty Bill of Rights Retained Shiism as official religion Created Guardian Council of clerics veto power

Sovereignty, Authority, and Power 1921 - Reza Shah carried out coup d’etat 4 years later named himself “shah-in-shah” (king of kings) Ruled with iron fist; Majles lost its power Changed name from Persia to Iran 1941 son, Muhammad Reza Shah took power in 1941 formed SAVAK: secret police authoritarian regim Rise of the National Front (opposition) Led by Muhammad Mosaddeq Drew support from middle class Emphasized Iranian nationalism

Sovereignty, Authority, and Power Mosaddeq advocated nationalizing the British owned-company that monopolized Iran’s oil business Also wanted to take armed forces out from under shah’s control Elected Prime Minister in 1951 Power grew & forced shah to flee country in 1953 British and U.S. orchestrated overthrow of Mosaddeq & restored shah to power…Why?

Sovereignty, Authority, and Power The Shah’s Downfall: Became more distant from people over the years Became very wealthy Ignored civil liberties Stifled newspapers, political parties, and professional associations Alienated clergy, intelligentsia, and urbanites Overstepped bounds of political culture: Perceived as being totalitarian Secularized too fast Offended nationalists and clergy with ties to west (particularly U.S.) Opposition to the Shah also became opposition to the U.S.

Sovereignty, Authority, and Power 1979 REVOLUTION Causes Shah perceived as being totalitarian Iran too secular, too tied to West Struggling economy Effects Theocracy established Sharia law Fundamental Islam Charismatic leader – Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini Shah fled country in Feb 1979

Sovereignty, Authority, and Power Who and Why? Iranian Revolutions Who? Middle Class Urban Revolution! Coalition of intellectuals, university and high school students and teachers, bazaar merchants, politically active clerics and seminarians, industrial workers, and finally, state employees and white-collared workers Why? Anti-Shah, Anti-USA Despotism, corruption, and the alliances with the United States and Israel united such diverse ideological factions as liberal adherents to 1906 constitution, Marxist-Leninist leftists and Islamists

Sovereignty, Authority, and Power Islamic Revolution 1979 Motivated by religion: traditionalists v. modernists Leader: Ayatollah Khomeini Islamic fundamentalism Jurist’s guardianship – shia term granting supreme authority to clergy Supporters: labor, merchants, students, middle class April 1979 national referendum was held – voted out monarchy established Islamic Republic Established a new constitution Ayatollah Khomeini (Supreme Leader)

Sovereignty, Authority, and Power 1905 --- Constitutional Revolution 1908 --- Oil discovered 1925 --- Reza Khan overthrows Qajar Dynasty 1941 --- Muhammad Reza Shah Pahlavi becomes shah 1950’s --- Mossadeq nationalizes oil industry; US coup d'état restores shah 1960s-70s --- White Revolution/Khomeini in exile 1979 --- Islamic Revolution

Iran Hostage Crisis American embassy hostages held for 444 days from 1979-1981 Believed that purpose could be to undercut PM Bazargan

Cultural Revolution Launched by Shia leaders after revolution Aimed to purify the country from the shah’s regime, secular values, and western influences Purged universities of liberals Suppressed all opposition

Sovereignty, Authority, and Power Iran-Iraq War: 1980-1988 The perfect thing for Ayatollah Khomeini War = National Unity Provoked by Saddam Hussein of Iraq Allowed the regime to consolidate power by calling for national unity in the face of a foreign invader The war became a means to suppress domestic discontent US supported Saddam and Iraq with billions of dollars of military aide!

Iran-Iraq War (1980-88) Started when Iraq invaded Iran by land and air People rallied around the govt in response Ended in 1988 with a UN-brokered cease-fire

Sovereignty, Authority, and Power Khomeini died in 1989 Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Change in constitution

Sovereignty, Authority, and Power President Mohammad Khatami (1997-2005) Reformist and surprise winner Easier to organize political groups Less censorship of press Tried to improve relations with US and other Western countries Reformist Khatami was left isolated by conservative resurgence Hard line conservatives disqualified moderates from 2004 parliamentary elections

Sovereignty, Authority, and Power President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (2005-2013) Tehran's ultra-conservative mayor Won a run-off vote in presidential elections in June 2005, defeating his rival, the former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani First non-cleric president in 24 years Ahmadinejad:

President Ahmadinejad (2005-2013) Council of Guardians rejected candidacies of popular reformers Further restrict public freedom Several major reformist newspapers closed Journalists and civil society activists arrested Jailed internet users who spread information “aimed at disturbing the public mind” Morality police and vigilantes to enforce Islamic dress codes & prevent public mingling of men and women Increasing reports of arrest, torture, and executions Sharia more strictly enforce Called for destruction of Israe Questioned reality of Holocaust Increased nuclear fuel research Ahmadinejad:

Sovereignty, Authority, and Power President Rouhani (Elected 2013) Moderate cleric

Sovereignty, Authority, and Power 1980-1988 --- War with Iraq 1989 --- Khomeini dies; Khamenei succeeds him as Supreme Leader after a power struggle in the Assembly of Religious Experts 1997 --- Reformist Khatami elected president 2000 --- Reformist candidates win control of the Majlis 2004 --- Conservatives regain control of Majlis, after 2,500 reformist candidates disqualified 2005 --- Conservative Ahmadinejad elected president 2009 --- Ahmadinejad reelected