1. Iran An Islamic Republic

2. Ancient History Persia; part of different empires
4th century conquered by Alexander the Great
Left structure in place
Monarchy through 6th century
Hereditary military leaders
Islam spreads rapidly from 632 to 650 CE
Through 11th century ruled by caliph
Poli and religious figure)
Caliphate defeated by Mongols in 13th century
Dynastic rule from 16th to 20th century 2

3. Modern History Constitutional Revolution 1906
Constitutional monarchy with legis body
1925 Reza Khan becomes Shah (king)
Modernizes: education, rail, conscription
Represses: press, Majlis, political activists jailed
1941 Reza Khan ousted by SU/UK; son Reza Pahlavi becomes Shah

4. Modern History White Revolution 1963
Counter to “red” communists
Land reform: govt bought from absentee owners, sold cheaply to farmers
Encouragement of agricultural entrepreneurship
Women’s rights expanded
Suffrage
Restricting polygamy
Labor rights

5. Criticisms of White Revolution
Clergy opposed to reforms
Suffrage for women; govt taking away power of religious leaders
Charasmatic Khomeini exiled; began to promote idea of theocracy
Landlords
Unhappy abt redistribution of land; govt defending laborers
Shah becomes more authoritarian
Freedoms restricted
Wealth from oil kept by Shah 5

6. Reforms led to growth of intelligentsia, urban working class, independent farmers
No feelings of loyalty to Shah; loyal to clerics
Frustration with corruption
Oil prices decrease ~10% in late 1970s
Consumer prices rise about 20%
Inflation, erosion of middle class
Revolution of rising expectations
standard of living improves, setback occurs, people revolt
US pressures Shah to loosen restrictions on civil society
Easing of restrictions allows people to feel free enough to join revolt

7. Iranian Revolution
Reaction against modernization and repression by shah
Fundamentalists encouraged by US, UK
Khomeini still in exile
Teachings promote overthrow of secular govt
Shah attempts to discredit Khomeini, but this only strengthens his supporters

8. Iranian Revolution 1978 Unarmed demonstrators killed in Tehran
Oil workers strike
Shah declares martial law
2 million ppl participate in anti-regime protests
rallies are organized and led by clerics
Shah flees to Egypt in Feb 1979
Khomeini returns from exile

9. Shah replaced by provisional govt
Khomeini returns to Iran in1979
Used charismatic power to gain control (Supreme leader) and implement a theocratic regime
Suppresses all opposition
Iran-Iraq War
Iran: Attempt to spread Shiism
Iraq: Seize territory
Widespread destruction
War ends w/o victor
Khomeini dies

10. Basically...
Shi’a clerics took dominant position in politics and nearly all aspects of Iranian life
After fall of Pahlavi dynasty, urban upper class of prominent merchants, industrialists, and professionals, favored by the former monarch, lost standing and influence to the senior clergy and their supporters
Urban working class, who allied with clergy, enjoyed enhanced status and economic mobility

12. Country Facts Slightly larger than Alaska 10% arable land
Mostly desert and mountains
Ethnic groups: 51% Persian
Religion: 89% Shi’a Muslim
Languages: Farsi/Persian dialects 58%
Literacy: 79%

13. Economy Per capita income: $11, 200 Unemployment rate: 14.6%
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, coal
Primary industry: petroleum, petrochemicals
Exports: $78.7 bil (China, Japan, India)
Imports: $58.9 (UAE, China, Germany)
GDP: billion

15. Electorate Total population: 76 million
Universal suffrage when over 18 yrs
50% of voters are under 30 yrs old
Voter turn out has decreased since 1997 due to disillusionment with elections

16. Majlis Unicameral 290 members, single member districts
Elected by popular vote every 4 yrs
Introduce/pass laws
All bill must by approved by Gaurdian Council
Summon/impeach ministers or president
2000: Reformist majority
2004: Reformists banned

17. Majlis
Members have to be Muslims but Constitution allows 5 members to represent Christians (3), Jews (1), and Zoroastrians (1)

19. President Second-highest ranking official Head of government
In reality, powers are circumscribed by clerics and Conservatives in Iran’s power structure and the authority of the Supreme Leader
Candidates are vetted by Guardian Council

20. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
Elected in 2005
Reelected (disputed) in 2009
Conservative
Former mayor of Tehran
First president since 1981 who is not a cleric

21. Assembly of Experts 86 members, directly elected every 8 years
Appoint/remove Supreme Leader
Exercises broad constitutional interpretation, along with Supreme Leader and Guardian Council
Dominated by Conservatives 

22. Guardian Council 12 male clerics
6 appointed by Supreme Leader, 6 nominated by judiciary and approved by Majles
Reviews bills passed by the Majlis to ensure compliance with Sharia law (can veto)
Decide who competes in elections (can bar candidates)
Controlled by Conservatives
Reformists have tried to reduce vetting power unsuccessfully
Council banned all but 6 candidates out of 1000 in the 2005 elections, Supreme Leader added 2 more
All female candidates were blocked

23. Cabinet/Council of Ministers
Chosen by president
Approved/impeached by parliament
Supreme Leader has influence over process
Cabinet is chaired by president or first vice-president

24. Supreme Leader
Imam of the entire community –most powerful political figure
Constitutional powers:
Faqih: leading Islamic jurist to interpret religious texts and sharia law
Links 3 branches of government together, may mediate among them
Determines the interests of Islam
Can eliminate pres candidates, dismiss pres, command armed forces, declare war/peace, appoint/remove major administrators and judges, nominate 6 members of Guardian Council, confirms the election results
Chosen by Assembly of Experts
Tension between Supreme Leader and President

25. Ayatollah Khamenei President from 1981-1989 Supreme Leader since 1989
Confidant of Khomeini

26. Expediency Council
Referee over disputes between the Guardian Council and the Majlis
Supreme Leader appoints its members
prominent political, religious, social figures
2005: granted supervisory powers over all branched over govt, Supreme Leader delegated his power
Chaired by former President Rafsanjani, who was defeated by Amadinejad

27. Jurist’s Guardianship
Velayat-e faqih
Principle instituted by Khomeini
Overarching authority of:
Supreme Leader
Guardian Council
Assembly of Experts
Expediency Council
Authority based on ability to follow religious teachings and commitment to protect rights of people

28. Judiciary Until early 1900s controlled by clergy Then secularized
After Revolution, Supreme Court revoked all laws that were deemed un-Islamic
Defines legal policy
Nominated 6 lay members of Guardian Council
Head of judiciary is appointed by Supreme Leader

29. Judiciary cont Shari’a law: Islamic law
Qanun: no sacred basis; can not contradict Shari’a law
Judicial review does not exist other than review by Expediency Council, Assembly of Experts, and Guardian Council

30. Armed Forces Revolutionary Guard and regular forces
Under joint general command
All commanders are appointed by Supreme Leader; report only to Supreme Leader
Revolutionary Guard has powerful presence in other institutions and controls volunteer militas in every town
8th largest military in the world

31. Bureaucracy Huge, dominated by clergy
Plagued by clientelism, corruption, mismanagement, patronage
Size doubled since 1979

33. Protests
Despite guarantees of liberties in 1979 Constitution, govt has regularly:
Suppressed newspapers, labor unions, private orgs, poli parties
Executed political reformers or caused them to fleeBanned demonstrations and public meetings
Recent protests following 2009 election of Ahmadinejad:
Calls for the election to be annulled
Dispersed with thousands of Revolutionary Guards and Basij
Disputed death toll
Use of social media to commuicate w/in Iran and w/ outside world

34. Ideological differences
Conservatives
clerics; those arguing for stricter societal rules; support market-oriented policies; greater authority for Supreme Leader
Pragmatists
more accommodating on social issues; suprt economic liberalization/privatization
Radicals
support increased state control of economy to ensure greater social justice

35. Shi’a Islam Shi’a: supported Mohammed's son-in-law (Ali)
Iran, Iraq, Azerbaijan
Sunni: supported Mohammed’s father-in-law
Sunni majority
Twelver (hidden) Imam
prophet successors to Muhammad
12th disappeared, believed to be alive, will return w/ Jesus
Shari’a law
Based on Koran, Sunnah (deeds, sayings of Muhammad)
Northern Nigeria

36. Oil/Petropolitics Under Pahlavi, Iran transformed to rentier state:
state derives substantial portion of revenue from “rent” payments made by foreign countries/institutions
rentier economy: heavily supported by state expenditure
govt relies less on tax revenue
Abt 50% of the economy is subject to central planning
Cleavage between elites w/ close ties to oil $ and elites w/ close ties to clergy
Instability of oil prices
Due to massive wealth generated by oil, Iran shifts away from agriculture

37. Mass Media Many privately owned newspapers and magazines
Government has forced pro-Reform media outlets to shut down
Highly educated elite
Radio and TV, govt run: Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting