2. ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN

3. BASIC FORMS OF GOVERNMENT POWER STRUCTURE Confederation Federation
Unitary state
Hegemony
Empire
POWER SOURCE
Democracy: Direct democracy
Representative democracy, Republic
Constitutional Monarchy
Monarchy/ Absolute Monarchy
Oligarchy/ Aristocracy
Military junta
Plutocracy
Authoritarianism/ Autocracy
Despotism Dictatorship
Totalitarianism
Others: Anarchy, Anocracy (Shared power among elites, Somalia war lords), Kritarchy (Courts), Meritocracy, Theocracy

4. ethnic composition:
Persian, 51%; Kurd, 7%; Arab, 3%; Turkmen, 2%
religious composition:
Shi’a Muslim, 89%, Sunni, `0%, other (Zoroastrian, Jewish, Baha’) 1%
lower-middle income country: 19:231 GDP
GDP composition by sector:: Agriculture, 30%, Industry, 25%, service, 45%
life expectancy: 69
adult literacy: male 78.4, female 65.8

5. Iran Introduction
Much of country not arable  skewed demographic distribution
world’s 17th largest population
70% of population lives in 30% of the land
Much of Iran is rural and historically nomadic/pastoral
89% Shi’ite Muslim
Strategic location in Persian Gulf
2nd largest exporter within OPEC, 4th largest exporter in the world
Proven oil reserves: 10% of world’s total, plus 15% of world’s natural gas reserves
population concentrated in north and northwest and in cities: Tehran, Mashhad, Isfahan, Tabriz, Qom
should Iran’s resources be controlled by clerics, or is economics outside the realm of religious leaders? 5

6. I. Comparative Concepts

7. II. Sovereignty, Authority, and Power

8. 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
(5) inaugurated a wave of political activism in the Muslim world
Islamic Theocracies: Sharia is the official basis for state laws in the following countries: Afghanistan, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, & Yemen.
In Nigeria, the constitution provides that states may elect to use Shari'a laws and courts
Christian Theocracy: Vatican City
political activism in Muslim world: “Islamic fundamentalism,” “Islamic militancy”, “Islamic radicalism”
Iran is the world’s only theocratic republic
conceptual difference between theocracy and liberal democracy
Theocracy assumes that an objectively true belief system must be promoted in public life
Democracy: different view of public life: a space for individuals with diverse private beliefs can coexist
Leadership: liberal democs presuppose that all citizens are eligible to gold all leadership positions
Theocracy:top officials must be drawn from a minority of people specially trained in religious doctrine

9. 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
SPLIT IN BASES OF LEGITIMACY
popular sovereignty: people elect president, members of parliament, Assembly of Religious Experts, and local city and village councils
even though officials/policymakers are elected, they are overseen by clerics who are not fully accountable to anything except their own religious conscience and one another

10. Legitimacy of Modern State
Revolution of 1979
Legitimacy attached to principles of Shi’ism
Constitution of 1979
Amended in 1989

11. History: Significant dates
559 BC
The first world empire (Achemenian Empire) founded by Cyrus the Great
life span of the Prophet Muhammad
Arab armies defeat Persia, introduce Islam
Safavid Empire founded, shi’ism established as Persia’s state religion
Qajar dynasty replaced the Safavids, retained Shi’ism
The Pahlavi dynasty
World War I
Iran occupied by Russian, British and German troops
1979
Shah’s regime falls, Khomeini declares Islamic Republic
war with Iraq
ancient Achemenian Empire, called Persia by Greece, its greatest rival
both civilizations were conquered by a Macedonian – A the Great

12. Shi’ism
from 7th to 16th centuries, region of Iran was disunified and frequently invaded
the glue that would eventually hold Persians together was religion
survived subsequent invasions and changes in political leaderhip
vital source of identity for Iranians
Shi’ism established as the state religion in the 16th century
division from Sunni Muslims:
the prophet died without a designated heir
Sunnis favored choosing the caliph from existing leadership
Shi’ias argued that only descendants of Ali should lead
Iranian sovereigns traditionally were military leaders, who also endorsed a state religion – Zoroastrianism – set the stage for an authoritarian state
Shi’ism is the brand of Islam that distinguishes Iran from its neighbors
a minority sect – 15% of Muslims worldwide – Shi’ia Iran is surrounded by Shiite states
Ali: the prophet’s son-in-law
heirs of Ali – imams - continued to 9th century, when the 12th descendant disappeared as a child
the “hidden imam”: will eventually return but until then the rulers of Iran stood in his place as the true heirs of Islam
messianic belief: the hidden imam will return and restore a just order –
until return, the rulers of Iran stood in imam’s place as the true heirs of Islam
until then, all secular authority is ultimately illegitimate

13. Ali: the prophet’s son-in-law
heirs of Ali – imams - continued to 9th century, when the 12th descendant disappeared as a child
the “hidden imam”: will eventually return but until then the rulers of Iran stood in his place as the true heirs of Islam
messianic belief: the hidden imam will return and restore a just order –
until return, the rulers of Iran stood in imam’s place as the true heirs of Islam
until then, all secular authority is ultimately illegitimate

14. messianic belief  challenge to legitimacy of all secular authority
shi’ite clerics: more independent, more hostile to secular power
secure income from voluntary religioius taxes
Shii’te clerics occupied a position similar to Catholic priests in premodern Europe or the Confucian mandarins in premodern China

15. Safavids (1501-1722) characteristics: converted Iranians to Shi’ism
ruled from inland Isfahan, relied on local leaders
claimed descent from 12 imams
influences on modern political system:
90% of modern Iranians are Shi’ite
tradition of isolation
foundations for a theocracy
Sunni: Kurds in NW, Turks in NE, Arabs in SW
Shi’ites respecte People if the Book – monotheistic, holy book – Jews, Christians
ruled from inland – little access to trade, little arable land
economic constraints forced the mto rely on local rulers – lacked ac entral state
fragmented - vulnerable

16. Qajars (1794 – 1925) characteristics: Turkish invaders
ruled from coastal Tehran
retained Shi’ism
domination by other countries
influences on modern political system:
tradition of trade/contact
foundations of secularism
failures of regime led to Constitutional Revolution of 1905  representative government
Afghan tribesmen invaded, 1722, finally conquered by Qajars, another Turkish group
retained Shiism but c/n claim descent from imams (because they were Turks0 – began separation of church and state
era of imperialism – lost land to Russia, sold oil rights to GB, heavy debt
Constitutional Revolution of 1905 – 1909, mostly by middle class opposed to extravagance of rulers, plus no effective army to put down
Constitution: direct elections, sep of powers, elected leg (majlis), popular sovereignty, individual rights
Shiism still official religion – necessary for cabinet appt, creation of Guardian Council
division of Iran during WW I

17. Pahlavis (1925-1979) characteristics:
overthrew representative government
centralized power in shah
increased reliance on oil income  creation of rentier state
contact with West, secularization
corruption
influences on modern political system:
reinforced authoritarian rule
increased secularization, followed by reestablishment of theocracy
coup by Reza Khan, colonel against weakened state, established dynasty
authoritarian – Majlis lost its power, though still some democratic opposition
transformed into a rentier state as oil revenues increased – gvt d/n need to tax, so d/n need support of the people
Shah seen as puppet
patronage fed the wallets of the Pahlavis, created the single Resurgence Party, w/ shah at head
built a highly centralized state,
controlled banks, media, Nat’l Iranian Oil Company
grew military and bureaucracy
turned Majlis into rubber stamp
courts became secularized; Euro-style law codes
western sympathy, white revolution (land redistribution – sold land to small farmers, encouraged them to become modern entrepreneurs) extending women’s suffrage
the Pahlavi attempts to secularize the state were undone by a charismatic leader – AK – who personified the union of politics and religion
AK led the Rev of 1979, which transformed the legitimacy of the state, again anchoring it in principles of Shi’ism

18. NATIONAL FRONT: supported by middle class people
Eventual democratic opposition to absolute rule of Reza Shah: Muhammad Mosaddeq
NATIONAL FRONT: supported by middle class people
who emphasized Iranian nationalism,
advocated nationalizing British-owned companies that monopolized oil
take military out from under control of shah
Mosaddeq elected Prime Minister in 1951, forced shah to flee the country in 1953
Great Britain and US co-sponsored move to overthrow Mosaddeq and restore shah to power
per USA, shah was pro-West and anti-Soviet

19. The Islamic Revolution and the Republic (1979 – Present)
Contrast from other modern revolutions (Russia, China, Mexico): in Iran, almost completely based on religion
the shah divided political culture, and a clerical elite rose up, led a revolution, and took over the government
charismatic leader: Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini
(1): defended fundamentalism
(2): articulated resentment against elites and the West
fundamentalism: emphasized literal interpretation of Islamic texts, social conservatism, political traditionalism
US and “the Great Satan”
gave new meaning to jurist’s guardianship: principle that originally gave senior clergy broad authority over unfortunates (widows, orphans, mentally unstable), but expanded by AK to authority over Shi’ia community

20. 2 factors sparked the revolution:
(1) late 1970s, decrease in oil prices combined with increase in consumer prices
“revolution of rising expectations”
(2) under pressure from USA, shah loosened restraints on opposition
unleashed support for revolution from diverse groups
shah fled the country
‘rising expectations’: rev most likely to occur when people are doing better than they once were but some setback occurs
support for revolution: plitical parties, professional associations, bazarris, college students, oik workers
unarmed demonstrators killed in Tehran, oil workers went on strike

21. Assembly of Religious Experts wrote constitution
April, 1979: referendum officially ended the monarchy and established the Islamic Republic of Iran
Assembly of Religious Experts wrote constitution
gave broad authority to Ayatollah and clergy
clergy launched a Cultural Revolution
purify Iran from the shah’s rule and from secular values and behavior, especially Western-inspired
government suppressed all opposition
Assembly of Experts: 73-man body of clerics elected directly by the pople
constitution approved by voters in midst of U.S. hostage crisis – time of high hostility toward West and USA in particular
similar to Mao’s cultural rev, universities were cleared of liberals, replaced w/ faculty that supported the new regime

22. The Iran hostage crisis
Referred to in Farsi as the "Conquest of the American Spy Den"
52 Americans were held hostage for 444 days (November 4, 1979, to January 20, 1981), after a group of Iranian students supporting the Iranian Revolution took over the US Embassy in Tehran
In Iran, the hostage taking was widely seen as a blow against the US and its influence in Iran, its perceived attempts to undermine the Iranian Revolution, and its longstanding support of the recently overthrown Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi
Following his overthrow, the Shah was allowed into the U.S. for medical treatment.
The Iranians wanted the US to return the Shah to them for trial of the crimes committed by him during his reign on ordinary citizens with the help of his secret police, the SAVAK

23. In Iran the asylum granted by the U. S
In Iran the asylum granted by the U.S. to the Shah was seen as American complicity in the atrocities meted by the Shah on the Iranian people.
In the US, the hostage-taking was seen as an outrage violating the principle of international law granting diplomats immunity from arrest and diplomatic compounds' inviolability.
US military attempted a rescue operation on April 24, 1980, Operation Eagle Claw resulted in a failed mission, the deaths of 8 American servicemen, 1 Iranian civilian, and the destruction of 2 aircraft.
On July 27, 1980, the former Shah died; then Iraq invaded Iran.
-These two events led the Iranian government to enter negotiations and the hostages were formally released just minutes after President Ronald Reagan was sworn into office.
The crisis strengthened the prestige of the Ayatollah Khomeini and the political power of those who supported theocracy and opposed any normalization of relations with the West.

24. present
Consolidation of clerical power under Khomeini aided by popular support:
oil prices rebounded
Iraq war
personal charisma of Ayatollah
Ali Khamenei lacks personality and credentials of Khomeni
greater questioning of authoritarian clerical rule
Iraq was ended in 1988, world oil prices fell again in 1990s
ongoing conflict between theocratic and democratic values
compare presidencies of Mohammad Khatami ( ) and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (2005 – present)
Khatami:
reformist, end freeze re West (esp USA)
d/n advocate changing basic theocratic structures, but reformists became strong presence in Majles and exec branch
Admadinejad:
conservative, antagonistic toward West
asserted theocratic values, appeal to Iranian nationalism

25. History of Iran & USA in 10 min, Every American must watch this!!