The Iran Review

using the themes of Comparative Politics 1. Sovereignty, Authority and Power a. Political Culture - Persian society & culture, power of the Qajar & Safavid Dynasties, + history of authoritarianism b. Nation/State- Sphere of influence under Russia & UK, but NOT a colony (oil), Persia then Iran in 20th C c. Sources of Power- Shiism history as a state religion, charismatic authority of 1st, Ayatollah Khomeini d. Constitution 1979, amended in 1989 e. Regime type Theocratic republic f. Economic system capitalism, yet with strong state economic control (bonyads own 60%+ of state companies); also rentier state g. Legitimacy - Velayat-e-faqih- Guardianship of the Jurist representing will of people through Shia thought--conflicting ideals of democracy & religion 2. Political Institutions a. Levels- centralized, unitary b. Executivei. Supreme Leader (currently Khameini) head of state, commander in chief, appoints Minister of Justice, many of the council heads, can dismiss Pres. ii. President (currently Ahmedinejad) head of government, appoints governors & mayors, cabinet, economic matters, c. Other quasi-executive/legislative bodies i. Guardian Council (appt by SL/Head of Judiciary) approves or vetoes Majlis legislation, vets/approves candidates for office (Pres, A of E, Majles) ii. Expediency Council (appt by SL) resolves GC/Majles conflicts, can initiate legislation, advisors to Sup. Leader iii. Assembly of Religious Experts (elected) selects/verifies fitness of Supreme Leader d. Legislative-unicameral parliamentary system Majles. Approves/removes cabinet heads, approves Guardian Council & approves budgets, loans, treaties, & lawmaking for secular (statute) law e. Elections/Electoral system- FPTP plurality system with run-off elections for Majles -- 4 years terms, 2-term max (last-2012); President -- 4 year term (last-2009), majority potential run-off election, 2 term max; Assembly of Experts 8 yrs. Up to 1/3 Majles candidates have been disqualified by GC; universal suffrage, age 18 (per CIA factbook-usually trustworthy) f. Political parties/party system very loose--personalized system surrounding leaders and their agendas. Fluid from election to election g. Leadership/recruitment religious centers in Qom, etc. train the ulema; also veterans of the Iran-Iraq war now in power, plus Rev Guards now have many former members surrounding President, in Majles and heading bonyads, etc. h. Military - Irans military includes the regular services (army, navy, etc.) plus the Islamic Rev Guard Corps (Pasdaran) and the volunteer corps militia (Basij) i. Bureaucracy-lots of technocrats, Ministry for Culture and Islamic Guidance oversees media j. Judiciary-head appt by Supreme Leader. Judges are also clerics

3. Citizen, Society and the State a. Cleavages Urban/Rural: Seven out of 10 Iranians now live in cities. Young/Old: Two-thirds of Irans population is under the age of 35 Class: lower middle/peasantry supports regime, middle/upper secularized more reformist minded. Religion: Iran is 90% shias, 9-10% Sunni, 1% Jews, Christians, Zoroastrians, Bahai Ethnicity: 51% Persian (Farsi speaking), 24% Azeri, 8% Gilaki, Mazandari, 7% Kurds, 3% Arab--Persians and Azeris get along (Khamenei is Azeri) Reformers/Conservatives political differences b/t having more secular govt and a strictly sharia/religious-based government b. Civil Societylots of newspapers, frequently closed; crackdowns on women who dont dress appropriately c. Media- mostly state owned radio, TV, but formerly strong independent newspapers taken a hit in last 5 years and frequently closed d. Pol. Participation Education is principal agent of socialization for creating good Islamic citizens out of young Iranians but attempts have mostly failed b/c youth most of protest movement. Mosque and religious institutions also important for socialization Mass demonstrations brought about Revolution and had been tolerated to a moderate amount & used by state as a show of support at times. 2009 protests harshly suppressed and fewer demonstrations than before 4. Political & Economic Change -- LOTS a. Revolution Islamic Revolution-- 1979 founding point for current regime (reasons=authoritarianism, secularism, ties to West) Cultural Revolution-early 1980s against intellectuals, primarily in educationweed out secularism 2009 protests against the election called the Green revolution (no real changes) b. Political Change- Safavids Qajars Pahlavis (Shah and his predecessors) Role of the US in the Mossadeq coupshahrevolutionIslamic state c. Economic Change Rentier state develops under Pahlavis more and more income from oil Modernization/industrialization White Revolution (1960s)secularized Iran (womens rights) and redistributed land to peasants, modernization Today state controls, role of Bonyads, dependent on oil exports, recent efforts to end subsidies and boost oil production, privatize SOEs 5. Public Policy a. Nuclear programsanctions by international community ongoing monitoring an issue b. Population -- 1st large families encouraged during I-I War; since late 80s, discouraged c. Iraqongoing issues about borders, involvement w/internal affairs, influence of Shiism inside, etc. d. Youthcreation of jobs, opposition to regime, universities often site for protests e. Isolation vs. engagement has remained marginalized in intl system. Member of UN (Russia protects them in Sec. Coucil), not member of WTO, most important org is OPEC 6. Comparative Theory why study Iran? a. Theocracy with some elements of democracyilliberal democracy b. Tradition of authoritarian leadership c. Rentier state/Politics of oil d. Moderately developed country