IRAN Part 2

cleavages religion religion – 90% Shi’a Muslim – constitution protects religious minorities, but inhospitable since founding of Republic ethnicity ethnicity – 51% Persian – religious cleavage sometimes reinforced by ethnicity social class social class – peasants/lower middle class traditional base of support for the regime; middle and upper classes largely secularized gender gender – divorce, custody, attire follow Islamic standards

cleavages, cont reformers vs. conservatives reformers vs. conservatives – fundamental cleavage: theocracy vs. democracy – conservatives: maintain clerical control and sharia law – reformers: increase secularization and democracy clerics: pragmatic, conservatives, radical clerics: pragmatic, conservatives, radical – pragmatics: favor liberal economic policies, encourage foreign trade, free markets, direct foreign investment – conservatives: private property/economic inequality protected under Islamic law – radicals: enhance social justice, endorse state- sponsored wealth redistribution and price controls

cleavages, cont, cleavages, cont, peasantry and urban lower-middle class peasantry and urban lower-middle class – strong base of religious orthodoxy –beneficiaries of revolutionary organizations and state bureaucracy resistance to authoritarian clerical rule most evident among predominantly secular middle class resistance to authoritarian clerical rule most evident among predominantly secular middle class – culturally westernized – – strongest source of opposition to the regime campaign to define Iran as a Persian nation (ethno-linguistic) alienates Turks, Kurds, and other ethnic minorities campaign to define Iran as a Persian nation (ethno-linguistic) alienates Turks, Kurds, and other ethnic minorities

government institutions government institutions a highly centralized unitary state, but divided administratively into provinces, districts, and localities a highly centralized unitary state, but divided administratively into provinces, districts, and localities a complex structure with a over-riding goal: to blend theocratic and democratic ideals a complex structure with a over-riding goal: to blend theocratic and democratic ideals Jurist’s Guardianship Jurist’s Guardianship – Supreme Leader – the Guardia Council – the Assembly of Religious Experts – the Expediency Council not divided – all have broad executive, legislative and adjudicative powers, and can supersede other positions and bodies not divided – all have broad executive, legislative and adjudicative powers, and can supersede other positions and bodies

Constitution of 1979: a dual executive – the Supreme Leader and the President Constitution of 1979: a dual executive – the Supreme Leader and the President the Supreme Leader the Supreme Leader – the imam of the entire community – country’s most powerful political figure – many constitutional powers:  faqih: the leading Islamic jurist to interpret religious texts and sharia law  links 3 branches of government together, may mediate among them  charged with ‘determining the interests of Islam’ – can eliminate presidential candidates, dismiss the president, command the armed forces, declare war/peace, appoint/remove major administrators and judges, nominate 6 members of Guardian Council

The Guardian Council The Guardian Council – 12 male clerics, 6 appointed by Supreme Leader, 6 approved by Majles – bills passed by the Majles reviewed by Guardian Council to ensure compliance with sharia – Council can decide who competes in elections Assembly of Religious Experts Assembly of Religious Experts – expanded in 1989 to 86 members, directly elected every 4 years – exercises broad constitutional interpretation, along with Supreme Leader and Guardian Council the Expediency Council the Expediency Council – a referee between the Guardian Council and the Majles

head of state (supreme leader) and head of government (president) head of state (supreme leader) and head of government (president) The Executive: The Executive: –Iran is not a presidential system –President is chief executive, highest state officer after the Supreme Leader – Cabinet: conducts day-to-day governance, initiates most laws The Bureaucracy: The Bureaucracy: – huge, dominated by clergy – bloated, plagued by clientelism, corruption, mismanagement, patronage

The Legislature (the Majles) : The Legislature (the Majles) : –unicameral, 290 seats, directly elected by the people –290 seats, elected by single member districts, wide suffrage –Control of the Majles shifts from reformers to conservatives The Judicidary : The Judicidary : –headed by chief justice -a cleric, who needs understanding of sharia law – appointed by the Supreme Leader – (1) distinction between sharia (Islamic canonical law)and qanun (non-sacred legislative acts) – (2) Supreme Leader, Guardian Council and Assembly of Religious Experts have the final say in interpreting law – unofficial role of ‘watchdogs’ – court system enforces censorship laws to curtail dissent

the Military : the Military : –Revolutionary Guards: elite military force established by Khomeini, commanders appointed by Supreme Leader as parallel force to protect the Republic from military subterfuge – the Basij: loosely-organized, militia-like part of the Revolutionary Guards – 8 th largest military in the world – advanced abilities and skills – Revolutionary Guard has become an important poltical and policymaking force

Theocratic and Democratic Elements in Iran’s Government Structure Structure/ Position TheocraticDemocratic Supreme Leaderultimate interpreter of sharia ; appointed for life Guardian Councilsix members appointed by Supreme Leader six members selected by the Majles, indirect democratic tie Assembly of Experts interpreter of shariadirectly elected by citizens Expediency Council appointed by Supreme Leader; most members are clerics not all members are clerics Majlesmust not contradict shariadirectly elected; pass qanun Judiciaryheld to sharia law, subject to judgment of Supreme Leader and Guardian Council tiered structure; some modern penalties

parties : parties : while Iran is highly politicized, there are no recognized, legitimate political parties while Iran is highly politicized, there are no recognized, legitimate political parties elections : elections : highly institutionalized – almost one per year highly institutionalized – almost one per year competitive, high voter turnout, but not synonymous with democratic governance competitive, high voter turnout, but not synonymous with democratic governance –handpicked candidates, many disqualifications Semipublic institutions/foundations: Semipublic institutions/foundations: – religious endowments: bonyads – theoretically autonomous but directed by clerics appointed by the Supreme Leader – tax exempt, reportedly wealthy, key patronage mechanism

civil society civil society similar to Mao, Shi’ite revolutionary elites moved to reinstall orthodoxy in public life similar to Mao, Shi’ite revolutionary elites moved to reinstall orthodoxy in public life launched a Cultural Revolution launched a Cultural Revolution – education system expected to impress the values of the Islamic state – universities cleared of ‘liberals’ despite ‘muscular’ state, civil society survives despite ‘muscular’ state, civil society survives – country is increasingly urbanized, educated and young – vibrant media – relative freedom to criticize government’s domestic and foreign policy  this freedom is an outgrowth of factionalism among Iran’s ruling elite

political participation despite guarantees of civil liberties in 1979 constitution, Iranian government has regularly – suppressed newspapers, labor unions, private organizations, political parties – exeuted political reformers or caused them to flee – abanned demonstrations and public meetings despite prohibition, protests have also continued regularly biggest popular upheaval since the Revolution of 1979: post 2009 election of Ahmadinejad – illustrated continuing capacity of Iranians to react strongly to repressive government – calls for the election to be annulled – dispersed with thousands of Revolutionary Guards and Basij – disputed death toll – Neda Soltan: has become iconic

women in the political system veil as symbol of oppression – more of a problem for Westerners? tradition of women in Islamic culture staying home, little education 20 th Iran an exception and a 2-edged sword “equality with a difference” – divorce and custody laws favor males – not well represented in the legislature