Iran Wood Chapter 7

Geography – Climate 

Geography – Economy GDP $438 B $5,383 ($19, 000 PPP) 16% Agriculture 35% Industrial 48% Service Gini coefficient is .44  Top 10% have 30% of wealth  18% under government poverty line 

Geography - Population 70% live in Urban settings 80 Million People Tehran 12 M Mashhad 2.7 M Isfahan 1.7 M Karaj 1.6 M

Geography – Population Ethnic Groups 51% Persian 24% Azeri 7% Kurds 3% Arabi Religion ~100% Muslim 90% Shia 10% Sunni 

Geography – Political 

History of Iran How have historical events made major contributions to the creation of the Iranian nation-state, and where does the current government of Iran derive its legitimacy from?

History – up to 1501 Iranians are NOT Arabs, they are Persians Long history of engagement with Europe (remember 300?) Zoroastrianism was religion supported by King, but religious freedom Islam spread from Iraq, however Persians follow Shiism Main split in Islam is between Sunnis and Shiite Shiite believe in “Hidden Imam” Major cross road for world trade

History – 1501-1921 Safavid Empire rules from 1501-1722 Incorporates People of the Book protections into law Trade shifts to waterways and soon Afghans sack capital at Isfahan 1722 Turkish group called the Qajars rules 1794-1925 With no religious basis for rule, separation of church and state began Serious foreign debt led to the Constitutional Revolution of 1905-1909 (bankers) Creation of the Majles (legislature) and Guardian Council (theocratic veto)

History – 1921-1978 Colonel Reza Khan’s successful coup d'état in 1921 ends with him becoming the shah in 1925 Return Iran to authoritarian rule and passes monarchy to son in 1941 Muhammad Reza Shah loses power, but is put back in place by UK and US Iran becomes rentier state ands Shah seen as puppet for Western Powers White Revolution was anti-communist and pro-western (women’s suffrage?) Pahlavi Foundation and Resurgence Party was last straw for the Iranians

History – 1978-79 Due to lower oil revenue and higher prices, the people became angry A “revolution of rising expectations” had been building for years Pahlavi Foundation, Resurgence Party, and White Revolution Jimmy Carter encouraging a more open democracy Mass protests, as many as 2 Million people Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini condemns Shah’s relationship with “Great Satan” from exile Shah flees the country February of 1979 leaving a power vacuum

History – 1979 April 1979 a national referendum official removed the shah and established he Islamic Republic of Iran with velayat-e-faqih (jurist's guardianship) Assembly of Religious Experts (elected) create the Constitution Constitution places Supreme Leader above all elected individuals and passed emphatically (99% of vote [Islamic Republic? yes or no] 75% of electorate voted) Cultural Revolution (similar to China) begins Purges within education and govt of dissidents Suppression of civil society Executions in the name of “revolutionary justice”

History 1980-1988 Iraq sensing the chaos in Iran, invades to increase their land holdings Iran is unprepared for war as 12,000 officers were executed or retired Initial advances by Iraq are pushed back by Iran leading to 8 years of stalemate Over 500,000 people die with no change in borders to either country Iran uses war to solidify support among people for new government

History – 1989 - present Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khomeini dies in 1989, but clerics had solidified power due to Increased global price of oil funded social programs “Rally round the flag” effect from Iraq War Charisma of Khomeini inspired faith in government Ali Khamenei replaces after letter of rec from Khomeini Supreme Leader elected by Assembly of Experts

Government – Political institutions

Government Institutions – Jurist’s Guardianship Iran does not exactly fit a three branch system of government A “4th branch” dealing with the integration of Sharia Law is needed Most of the “checks and balances” originate from one of these four entities Supreme Leader Guardian Council Assembly of Religious Experts Expediency Council

Government Institutions – Jurist’s Guardianship The Supreme Leader is the paramount leader of Iran Only Khomeini and Khamenei have ever held the position and both were given the position for life Supreme Leader is the faqih or leading Islamic jurists Has final say in interpretation of Sharia Law Links the three branches together and at times mediates between them

Government Institution – Jurist’s Guardianship Constitutional Powers of the Supreme Leader include, but are not limited to Elimination of presidential candidates Dismissal of the President Command of the armed forces Declaration of war and peace Appointment/removal of major administrators and judges Appointment of six members of the Guardian Council Appointment of many other influential directors eg. National TV and Radio

Government Institution – Jurist’s Guardianship The Guardian Council - along with Supereme Leader, they exercise Jurist’s Guardianship 12 member body: six selected by Supreme Leader, six nominated by the chief judge confirmed by the Majles Review all bills passed by the Majles to ensure compliance with Sharia Law Screening of candidates for Majles and for President Thousands of people removed from 2012-13 elections

Government Institution – Jurist’s Guardianship The Assembly of Religious Experts 86 members elected to 4 year terms Elect a new Supreme Leader when position becomes vacant May remove Supreme Leader Candidates must be approved by the Guardian Council Master’s degree in seminary was required initially, but now just approval by GC Seem to be more of a ceremonial position today If members draw criticism from Supreme Leader, they may be removed

Government Institution – Jurist’s Guardianship The Expediency Council Created by Khomeini to referee disputes between the Majles and Guardian Council 32 members appointed by the Supreme Leader who serve 5 year terms Initially created to only create compromise bills, but today can create own bills Appears to have vast powers of all branches of government and may be as powerful as the Supreme Leader collectively

Government Institutions - Executive The President Directly elected to a four year team (two term limit) Selects Vice President and Cabinet Proposed legislation to the Majles Create budget Appoints governors, mayors, and ambassadors Although dual executive with Supreme Leader, clearly subordinate in power Firing and rehire of Moslehi shows Supreme Leader is in charge

Government Institutions – Legislative Technically unicameral, however the Majles have shared power with the Assembly of Religious Experts and the Expediency Council 290 member house elected by qualified FPTP (25%) SMD Enact or change law (Guardian Council veto) Interpret legislation (cleric veto) Selecting six members of Guardian Council (from chief judge list) Remove Cabinet (Supreme Leader veto) Approve Budget

Government Institutions – Judicial Two types of law in Iran Sharia – Islam Law based on the Quran and a tradition of legal scholars Supreme Leader appoints the chief judge who manages the judiciary Supreme Court is filled with high-ranking clerics who are familiar with sharia Sharia Law is superior to all other forms of law and rules Qanun – Code law passed by the Majles Must not contradict sharia law All laws reviewed by the Guardian Council for compliance with Sharia

Government Institutions – Military Supreme Leader is the commander in chief of the military Regular military is responsible for defending borders of Iran (540k troops, 8th largest) Formal chain of command is appointed by the Supreme Leader Revolutionary Guards – established by Khomeini to protect the revolution Officially part of the Military along with Army, Navy, and Air Force Basij – part of Revolutionary Guards; created as a youth para military in Iran-Iraq War Today are used to ensure domestic stability; questions of brutality to protestors

Political Institutions – Elections Universal suffrage for citizens over 18 Electorate votes directly for Majles, President, and Assembly of Religious Experts Selection, not Election due to screening effect of Guardian Council Two round system used so that President receives a majority of votes, has not been used do to all Presidents gaining 50% + in every election so far

Political Institutions – Political Parties Parties allowed by the Constitution, but none formed until 1997 Tend to be focused on factions based on personalities, not ideology Parties may come together to form alliances or coalitions Islamic Society of Engineers – party of Ahmadinejad, kind of… Front of Islamic Revolution Stability – Conservative coalition Moderation and Development Party – moderate Combatant Clergy Association – Reformist coalition; Rouhani current president Islamic Coalition Party – pre-revolution party that supports conservative ideals

Political Institutions – Interest Groups Formal interest groups may register with the government Due to factionalism, interest groups and political parties shared a blurred line Workers House (Islamic Labor Party) uses demonstrations and a newspaper to spread their ideas Businesses tend to be para-statal, so no formal interest group would be needed (government control 65-80% of the economy)

Political Institutions – Media Ranked 169 out of 180 in world for Press Freedom Radio and TV are government run 1981 law makes it criminal to publish anti-government stories 1986 media law allows government to ensure coverage doesn’t endanger the Islamic Republic offend the Supreme Leader Under Pres. Khatami “Tehran Spring” loosened freedom of press and speech Pres. Ahmadinejad closed down newspapers and began censoring books and webistes

Civil Society – Cleavages Religion – As nearly 100% of Iran is Muslim, Sunni vs Shia is only real religious issue. Baha’i have been persecuted in the past Ethnicity – Small majority (51%) of Persians with Azeri (Shia) 24%, and Kurds (Sunni) 7% being the only real concern. Khomeini is Azeri, so little worry of independence while he is Supreme Leader Social Class – Lower classes are more religious and support the regime mostly due to government programs; middle and upper class tend to be more secular and are concerned about the economic progress of Iran

Civil Society – Cleavages Reformers vs Conservative – Most important cleavage in Iran; conservatives want to keep the country under strict sharia law, reformers do not want to do away with the Islamic state, but allow for more freedoms and opinions on how to blend theocracy with democracy and the secular state Pragmatic conservatives vs. radical clerics – within the Conservative clergy a sub-cleavage Pragmatics favor free market, foreign trade, and foreign investment Radical clerics favor state sponsored welfare programs to enhance social justice

Civil Society – Protests Ummmm 1979, duh From 1999-2005 it appeared that protests, as long as they were peaceful were toletarted With elections of Ahmadinejad, security forces and the Basij 2009 protests to election were part of “Green Movement” Hundreds arrested, at least 20 killed (probably many more) 2011 Mousavi (lost pres. election in 2009) encouraged Iranians to support protesters in Egypt – tear gas and violence ensued with a few deaths

Civil Society – Voting Candidates must have 50% of vote to be elected Majles is SMD; President is from list of candidates Universal suffrage for over 18, including women Parties tend to come and go as they focus on personalities rather than principles Election of 2012 was between personal factions United Front of Principles Khameni (won 35% of seats) Resistance Front Ahmadinejad (won 17% of seats) Democratic Coalition of Reformists (won 14%)

Civil Society – Voting Presidential election of 2013 Many reformist candidates were disqualified by Guardian Council Ahmadinejad's had picked successor was as well Rouhani wins in an upset vs candidates supported by Supreme Leader Endorsed by Khatami and Rafsanjani (former reformist presidents) Removal of so many candidates by GC led to solidified support for Rouhani Won with 50.7% of vote; next highest was 16.6% (turn out was over 70%)

Policies and Issues – The Economy Weary of foreign investment, laws limit how much foreigners can own “Economics is for Donkey” was Khomeini’s disdain for economists Economic policy is major disagreement between reformists and conservatives Price controls were deferential to the economy; most removed in 2010 Cash transfers are given to families to offset increased prices after 2010 Pres. Rouhani is hopeful he can work with other countries to correct economy

Policies and Issues – Foreign Policy Historically in conflict with the United States since 1979 Situation appeared to be getting better, then “Axis of Evil” speech Election of Ahmadinejad turned perception of Iran worse for most countries Rouhani sees US as in permanent conflict with Iran, but desires more integration with WTO OPEC membership is most significant supranational organization Desire for Nuclear Energy (maybe weapons) has created much conflict with West