Iranian Political Culture

Political Cleavages Religion Religion Ethnicity Ethnicity Social Class Social Class Reformers vs. Conservatives Reformers vs. Conservatives

Religion 89% of Iranians are Shi’a Muslims 89% of Iranians are Shi’a Muslims 10% are Sunni Muslim 10% are Sunni Muslim –The constitution does not mention Sunnis and their legal status is therefore unclear 1% are a combination of Jews, Christians, Zoroastrians, and Baha’i 1% are a combination of Jews, Christians, Zoroastrians, and Baha’i Constitution recognizes rights of religious minorities, many religious minorities have left country since Islamic Revolution Constitution recognizes rights of religious minorities, many religious minorities have left country since Islamic Revolution Baha’i considered unholy offshoot of Islam and they have been persecuted by Shi’ite governments. Baha’i considered unholy offshoot of Islam and they have been persecuted by Shi’ite governments. –Baha’i leaders have been executed, imprisoned, tortured, their schools closed and property confiscated

Ethnicity 51% Persian (speak Farsi) 51% Persian (speak Farsi) 24% Azeri 24% Azeri –Live mostly in the northwest close to Azerbaijan, this causes tension with Iranian government worried that Azeri may want to unite part of Iranian territory with Azerbaijan –Azeri do not speak Farsi, but they are mostly Shi’ite, Ali Khameini was Azeri 8% Gilaki & Mazandarani 8% Gilaki & Mazandarani 7% Kurds 7% Kurds –Predominantly Sunni 3% Arabic 3% Arabic –Predominantly Sunni

Social Class Peasantry and middle class support Islamic regime Peasantry and middle class support Islamic regime –Benefited from government social programs.  Provided electricity & paved roads –Strong support for Ahmadinejad Middle & Upper-middle class largely secularized Middle & Upper-middle class largely secularized –Critical of clerics –Have not fared well economically under the Republic –Supportive of reformist candidates

Political Culture Authoritarianism (not totalitarianism) – leaders claim to be all powerful, but do not interfere with every aspect of the citizens lives Authoritarianism (not totalitarianism) – leaders claim to be all powerful, but do not interfere with every aspect of the citizens lives Union of political & religious authority Union of political & religious authority Shi’ism & Sharia – key components of everyday life Shi’ism & Sharia – key components of everyday life Geographic Limitations – limited arable land forced expansion through military conquest, population of Iran unevenly distributed in cities and northwestern part of country Geographic Limitations – limited arable land forced expansion through military conquest, population of Iran unevenly distributed in cities and northwestern part of country Influence of Ancient Persia and colonial past Influence of Ancient Persia and colonial past

Legitimacy of Modern State Revolution of 1979 Revolution of 1979 –Charismatic legitimacy of Ayatollah Khomeini –Legitimacy attached to principles of Shi’ism –Constitution of 1979 and amendments of 1989

Women & the Political System When shari’a law is interpreted narrowly women are considered wards of their male relatives When shari’a law is interpreted narrowly women are considered wards of their male relatives “Equality-with-difference” policy – instituted by the Islamic Republic slants law favorably towards men on issues such as divorce and custody “Equality-with-difference” policy – instituted by the Islamic Republic slants law favorably towards men on issues such as divorce and custody –Women must wear scarves and long coats in public –Women cannot leave country without consent of male relatives –Occasionally women stoned for committing adultery

Women & the Political System II Women allowed to get education in Iran and entrance into some occupations Women allowed to get education in Iran and entrance into some occupations –Expectations for better jobs and increased political rights among educated women –Half of college students in Iran are women –Women make up 27% of the labor force Women are still largely underrepresented in every area of government in Iran Women are still largely underrepresented in every area of government in Iran