Iran: Spatial Unit Examined Where are they going? Where have they been?

History: The Ancient Past The Persian Empire Persian Iran The Shah of Iran: 1501 – 1979

History: Of Islam in Persian Iran Islamization Islamic Golden Age New Establishment of Religion

History: It’s A Revolution Islamic Revolution of 1979 Ayatollah Era Islamic Republic of Iran Future Revolution?

Communication Technologies Pop.=66,429,284 Main line telephones= million or 35% Mobile/Cellular=29.77 million or 45% Internet users= 23 million or 34% Compare to USA Main line= 53% Cell/Mobile= 83% Internet users=72%

Communication Technologies Telecommunications company of Iran (TCI) recently split and privatized. All media is heavily censored/regulated by government Recent privatization of mobile phone sector has led to competition and lower prices for end user

Socio-economic situation in Iran Heavily reliant on Oil=Gas Export (80% exports) 60% Economy directly controlled by government 26%Inflation, 12% unemployment Markedly inefficient government operations hinder move towards privatization

What’s the good news? Growing Intellectual community Iran among top 25 world spenders on Education

Strained Resources Arid, mountainous geography –Agricultural production and water resources limited Population doubled in 25 years Little investment in infrastructure or economic development –High poverty rate, poor air quality, poor water quality

Impact of Oil Industry Industrial waste leading to water quality degradation Caspian Sea Region –Rising sea level (2.5 meters since 1978) –Threat to aquatic ecosystem (fish spawning grounds and seal population) Increased awareness –Caspian Environment Program ( –CASPCOM (

References Afrasiabi, K. L. (2003). The environmental movement in Iran: perspectives from below and above. The Middle East Journal, 57, Retrieved February 21, 2009, from Expanded Academic ASAP. Azam Zanganeh, L. (Ed.). (2006). My sister, guard your veil; my brother, guard your eyes: Uncensored Iranian voices. Boston: Beacon Press. Butler, Declan (2006, November). The Data Gap. Nature, 444, Retrieved 03/26/09, from Campbell, Deborah (2006). Iran’s Quiet Revolution. The Walrus Magazine, CIA, (2009, March 19). Iran. Retrieved March 30, 2009, from CIA world fact book Web site: Fenton, Matthew (2006). Iran Leads an Islamic Uprising. Time The Middle East: The History, Cultures, Conflicts, and Faiths, Fergany, Nader (2006, November). Islam and Science. Nature, 444, Retrieved March 27, 2009, from Ghasemi, A. (2009). The parkingallery. Retrieved March 29, 2009, from National Public Radio. (2009). Unwrapping Iran. Retrieved February 24, 2009, from Vakil, S. (2004). Iran: The gridlock between demography and democracy. SAIS Review, 24(2), Retrieved February 21, 2009, from Project MUSE.