The Islamic Republic of Iran

Jessica BrownMike Harris

Alex BurkeVince Schueren

Andruw Welch

HISTORICAL, CULTURAL & SOCIAL FACTORS MAKING THE MODERN STATE

• Location has made Iran highly vulnerable to invaders.

• Iran’s terrain is mostly inhospitable to agriculture.

• 2nd largest oil producer in middle east.• 4th largest oil producer in world.

UNIQUE IDENTITY

Farsi (Persian/Persian

Dialects)58%

Turkish and

Turkish Dialects

26%

Kurdish9%

Other7%

Official Religion: Muslim

Languages

Shi'a 89%

Sunni 9%

Other 2%

• Iran’s government is a mixture of theocracy and democracy, and is only government in world of it’s kind.

• Based on both the divine right of the clergy and the divine rights of the people.

Political System

Islamic law – the shari’a

• The Shari’a is the basic Islamic legal system derived from the Qaran (in Iran).

• Shari’a law is a significant source or legislation in Iran.

Some area’s of Islamic law include:

-Hygiene and purification (manner of cleansing)

-Econmic laws (religious endowment, inheritance laws)

-Dietary laws (including ritual slaughter)

-Dress code (hijab)

-Theological Obligations (pilgrimage, formal worship, funeral prayer)

-Customs and behavior (encouragement of domestic violence against women)

-Status of non-Muslims (inequalities among men)Throughout Iran’s history, new leaders tried to incorporate Islamic Law with their own political reforms with little to no success. Attempts to modernize the Shari’a have even been made. It’s focus on inequalities among man, the condoning of domestic violence, and it’s call for harsh punishments unfitting to the “crimes”, cannot coincide within a government identifying as a democracy.

QAJAR RULE & THE 1906 CONSTITUTION• 1794 – Royal Qajar family reclaimed region in effort to rebuild

crumbling nation.

• Shi’ism officially declared state religion.

• Qajar Rule lasted through1800s – coinciding with peak of European Imperialism.

• Brief war with Britain in 1854, Russian seizure of Caucasus mountains, and introduction of western social reform (which was rejected by Iran) fueled government to re-establish itself so that Iranian Identity was not lost.

• Constitutional Revolution of 1905-1909 1906 Constiitution

• Retained monarchy• Centered political power in national assembly,

Majles.• Included bill of rights.

Reign of the Pahlavis 1925-1979

• 1921 – British promoted colonel Reza Khan lead coup d’etat overthrowing Qajar.

• 1925 - Crowned himself “Shah” (King), & established Pahlavi monarchy.

-“Secular Muslim King”

• 1941- Shah removed from power and exiled by force of Great Britain and Soviet Union.

• Immediately replaced by son, Muhammed Reza Pahlavi (1941-1979)

Shah Reza Khan

The Shah imposed secular laws to be valued over Islamic law, clashing with Iran’s devout Muslim society and way of life. This, paired with mass corruption, saw to his exile after a 20 year rule.

Fall of the Shah

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (1963-1979)

• Pahlavi dynasty saw Iran’s first centralized state.

• Armed forces grew from <40,000 in 1925 to ~410,000 by 1979.

• Bureaucracy employed >300,000 civil servants by 1979.

• Interior Ministry grew so powerful it was saw appointment of city officials.

• Transport Ministry built impressive amount of ports, bridges and other infrastructures crucial for economic growth.

• Ministry of Industries financed many factories for production of consumer goods.

White Revolution (1963)• Effort to promote economic

development, social reform, and to modernize Iran.

• Women were given right to vote.

• Literacy Corp was formed in order to extend education to countryside.

• By 1970 a modern communication system had been created, and Iran had seen a small industrial revolution.

Resurgence Party: In 1975 the Shah implemented “one-party state”, threatening exile and imprisonment to those who refused to join. The nations resentment eventually formed the Opposition that would revolt, removing him from power.

1979 ISLAMIC REVOLUTION

Factors in rise of Opposition• Establishment of military

dictatorship• Formation of SAVAK, secret

police• Collaboration with CIA• Election rigging• Taking over the religious

establishment• Creation of fascist “one-party”

state

• Exiled in Iraq, Opposition leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Komeini had designed new version of Shi’ism.

• Opposition considered Khomeini leader of Iran.

Movement to Islamism

ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN (1979-PRESENT)• Public referendum replaced Monarchy just

7 weeks after revolution.• Highly theocratic constitution drafted in

late 1979, giving Khomeini & clergy high authority.

• Khomeini ruled under idea of Islamism• Labeled Islamic fundamentalist.Defining Islamism• Islamism, Islamic fundamentalism and

political Islam pertain to the intermingling of religion and politics.

• Khomeinist movement expanded Islam from personal religion into an all encompassing ideology dealing with ones relations with God as well as political, legal, social and economic matters.

Consolidation of Power Among ClericsSaddam Hussein’s invasion of Iran in 1980 united the nation. Oil prices almost doubled throughout the world, giving the regime ability to finance development programs despite being at war.

IDEOLOGICAL CRISES

• Democratic idea favored over theocratic idea.• The reform of the 1990’s denounced Islamism, turned to

more conventional understanding of Islam• Clerical rule no longer of interest.• This shift in ideas divided Khomeinism into two very

different branches which are the current political makeup of Iran.

-Political Liberalism -Clerical Conservatism

Islam & The Democratic Idea

• By 1989 Iran was already in need of reform.• Death of Khomeini, drop in oil prices, and the end of war

with Iraq resulted in a halt in economic development.• Khomeini supporters now stressed importance of

democracy over theocracy.

Despite the turmoil it has caused, Islam continues to have a place in the state of Iran. Islamic law is based on the idea that humans are not equal, the exact opposite of the democratic idea. The conflicting ideas continue to divide the nation, but remain the makeup of the modern state.

Political Economy Of Iran

G r o w t h a n d D e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e i r M o d e r n P o l i t i c a l E c o n o m y

Resources: Impact on Economy

● Iran economy's great strength is its abundant energy resources: It holds

10% of the world's proven oil reserves and its supplies of natural gas are

second only to Russia's.

● Nearly a third of its 68 million people are below the age of 14, putting immense pressure on the country’s labor markets

● Economy is dominated by an inefficient state sector including private enterprise largely limited to small trading and service businesses.

● Foreign trade is restricted by sanctions imposed by the US, after accusations of Iran sponsoring terrorism.

Development of the Economy: Pre-Revolutionary 1979

● Safavids, Qajars, Pahlavis..

● Totally modeled on the Western nation of modernization relied slightly on Western support

● Mohammed Reza Shah- oil revenues increase, economic centralization during a time of societal stress and imbalance

● Shah’s rule affected the economic infrastructure but not the monarchial political structure-accentuated the gap between the two by the pro-Western industrial policies brought about by the Shah

Development of the Economy: Post-Revolutionary

● Post-Revolutionary economy emphasized more on the doctrine of self-sufficiency and self-reliance

● Assembly of Experts- New Constitution drawn up

● Few people could challenge Khomeini

● Suddham Hussein’s invasion rallying Iran

● Petroleum fluctuations and the new regime

● Khomeini Dies in 1989

Political Economy Today and Moving forward

● Was a mixture of democracy and theocracy headed by a cleric, mixed political society and economy

● Islamic republic today: GDP, Armies, resources

● Evolving Democracy today- Shi’ism and Sunnism influences

● Islamism and the Theocratic nation

● Lasting effects of Ayatollah and new programs initiated by Ahmadinejad

● The ongoing “Resource Curse”, and dual societies.

In Summary

● Pre Revolutionary Society

● Post Revolutionary Society and Economy

● Major factors involved:

● Resources

● Leadership

● New Regime

● Theocratic Democracy Today

● Nationalism

Governance and Policy-MakingA L E X B U R K E

Organization of the State

ExecutiveJudiciaryLegislative

Leader for LifeAyatollahsHojjat al-Islams

Kesselman (2011).

Power of the Leader

• Mediate between legislature, executive, and the judiciary• “Determine the interests of Islam,”

“supervise the implementation of general policy,” and “set political guidelines for the Islamic Republic”• Executive • Judicial

Ali Khamenei

Appointed vs Elected

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8051750.stm

The Government Executive

• President is elected every four years, only can serve two terms• Constitution states president must be

Shi’i, from Iran, and between ages of 25 and 75• Presidential powers• Vice presidents

• Mullahs (clerics)

Hassan Rouhani

The Bureaucracy

• Size of Bureaucracy• Ministries• Culture and Islamic Guidance• Intelligence• Heavy Industries• Reconstruction

• Clergy dominate the bureaucracy and presidency• Monopolized Intelligence, Interior, Justice, and Culture and Islamic Guidance

The Judiciary

• Central pillar of the state• Laws conform to the religious law and clergy are the ultimate

interpreters of the shari’a• Bills passed by Majles are reviewed by the Guardian Council to make

sure they conform to the shari’a• Seminary-trained jurists replaced university-educated judges• Penal code, the Retribution Law

The Military

• 370,000 in army• 120,000 Revolutionary Guards• 200,000 volunteers in the

Mobilization of the Oppressed (Basej-e Mostazafin)- volunteer militia created during the Iraqi War • Post-revolution military• Army vs. Revolutionary Guards• Small percentage of budget

Revolutionary Guards

Subnational Government

• Divided administratively into provinces, districts, subdistricts, townships, and villages• Provinces headed by governors-general• Districts by governors• Subdistricts by lieutenant governors• Towns by mayors• Villages by headmen

• Local affairs under supervision of elected councils starting in 1999• Elections

Semipublic Institutions

• Supposedly autonomous but are directed by clerics appointed by the Leader• Annual income is half of that of the government• Exempt from state taxes and are allocated foreign currencies• Foundation for the Oppressed• Administers 140 factories, 120 mines, 470 agribusinesses, 100 construction

companies, 2 leading newspapers

• Others

Policy-Making Process

• The Society (Majmu’eh) of the Militant Clergy• Statist reformers/populists, progressives

• The Association (Jam’eh) of the Militant Clergy• Laissez-faire (free market) conservatives

• Gridlock• Majles vs. Guardian Council• 1981-1987• Conservatives vs. Reformers• Expediency Council

POWER OF THE PEOPLE:POLITICAL REPRESENTATION IN IRANV I N C E S C H U E R E N

FUNDAMENTAL QUESTIONS:

• Is there room for democracy within a theocracy?• If the VAST majority believes in a religion, does theocracy

truly represent the people’s wills?• Is the Islamic Republic of Iran primarily serving itself, its

people, or Islam itself?• How can we draw the line between a theocratic government

and the religion itself?

OFFICIALLY…..

• Majles is 290 members and represents the people• People have constitutional right to organize and assemble• Constitution guarantees free elections every 4 years• Constitution guarantees rights for religious minorities and

non-Persian speakers• Citizens must be imprisoned or executed with due process• Interest groups have the right to form• Constitution says villages have right to elect local leaders to

watch over educational, cultural and social programs.

ORGANIZED REPRESENTATION

PARTIES:• Islamic Iran Participation Front---Islamic Labor Party---

Servants of Reconstruction

INTEREST GROUPS (more important!):• Liberation Movement---National Front---Mojahedin---

Fedayin---Tudeh

OBSTACLES:• Interior Ministry must approve interest groups as “politically

acceptable”

ELECTIONS: A ROCKY ROAD

Early 80s: relatively free but disorderlyLate 80s/early 90s: controlled and unfairLate 90s: relatively free and orderly

2009: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad “elected”

TO DEMOCRACY OR NOT TO DEMOCRACY?• Democratic Aspects:• Constitutional right• Neighborhood clerics

help illiterates to vote• history of voter

participation (up to 80%)

Antidemocratic Aspects:• Gangs present at

voting sites• Information/Media

control• Guardian Council must

approve all Majles candidates

• Govt interference in elections

MINORITIES

• Religious minorities (Christians/Jews/Zoroastrians) form __% of population.

• 83% understand Persian. 50% speak non-persian language at home (Azerbaijani, Kurdish, Mazandarani, Gilaki, Luri)

• (Remember: Constitution guarantees rights to these minorities!)

TREATMENT OF RELIGIOUS MINORITIESJEWS• Harassed as “pro-Israeli zionists” • 40,000 of 80,000 have left Iran since 1979

CHRISTIANS (mostly Armenian)• Forced to end co-ed classes and adopt

muslim• school uniform including veil • 100,000 of 300,000 have left Iran since

1979

SUNNIS• Alienated, not a single Sunni mosque in

Tehran

BAHA’IS• Adherents fired/imprisoned/tortured to

convert, Community leaders executed as “heretics” or “spies” Schools closed down, cemeteries and shrines bulldozed

POLITICAL DISSENT IN THE EARLY YEARS (1979-1999):• Closed down political parties, labor unions, & newspapers• Banned some demonstrations & public meetings• Imprisoned tens of thousands without due process• Executed 25,000• Killed Protesters on Tehran University campus• Evoked particular resentment among 3 groups:

• Modern middle class, Educated Women, Organized Labor

WOMEN IN IRAN

• Educated women have many grievances

• For most headscarf not important compared to employment equality

• Established their own organizations and journals reinterpreting Islam through a gender-equality lens

• Only 10 seats in Majles (2.7%)

LABOR FORCE IN IRAN CALLS FOR:

• Higher wages• Lower unemployment• Decent Housing• Right to call strikes and organize independent unions

IN REFLECTION:

• No liberal democracy• Theocracy more than democracy• Islam remains unchallengeable within

the system• Has a strong history of political

participation• 99% of citizens are Shia Muslim• May become more democratic in the

future• How much room is there for

democracy within a theocratic government?

Iranian Politics in Transition

Political Challenges and Changing Agendas

I n t e r n a l S t r u g g l e s• S y n t h e s i z e t h e o c r a c y

w i t h d e m o c r a c y• Profound cultural revolution when

the people embrace ideas such as, political pluralism, civil society, human rights, etc.

• C l e r i c a l a u t h o r i t y w i t h m a s s p a r ti c i p a ti o n• Took over Majles in ‘04 and

presidency in ‘05• Conservatives want semblance of

mass participation without actually sharing power.

E x t e r n a l s t r u g g l e s• T h e U n i t e d S t a t e s

• Bush named Iran a member of “Axis of Evil” and called for a ‘regime change”.• Pressures Iran from WTO

• A c c u s e d I r a n o f m u l ti p l e w o r l d i n fl i c ti n g a t r o c i ti e s .• Sabotage of Isearli – arab peace

process• Helping multilple terrorist

organizations• WMDs

Political Challenges and Changing Agendas

• Iranian conservatives transform external (USA(Bush)) threat into asset. • Intimidate reformers to silence

demands by declaring Iran was in danger from USA.

• Iranian Subsidy Reform Plan was implemented in 2010• “Biggest surgery” to Iranian

economy in 50 years. • Replace subsidies on food and

energy with targeted social assistance.

• Part of 5 year Economic Development Plan.

Iranian Politics in Comparative Perspective

A d v a n t a g e s• O l d s t a t e w i t h a n c i e n t

i n s ti t u ti o n s a n d t r a d i ti o n s .• R e l i g i o u s c o n n e c ti o n

b e t w e e n e l i t e s a n d m a s s e s• R i c h o i l r e c o u r s e s• C o n s ti t u ti o n a l a n d

I s l a m i c r e v o l u ti o n s w e r e “ i n h o u s e ” p o l i ti c a l u p h e a v a l s .

D i s a d v a n t a g e s• U n d e r - d e v e l o p e d

e c o n o m y• O n e m a j o r c o m m o d i t y• E t h n i c i t y , c l a s s ,

g e n d e r , a n d i n t e r -c l e r i c a l p o l i ti c a l c o n fl i c t s .• D e m o c r a ti c i d e a

c o n s t r i c t e d b y t h e o c r a c y

Iranian Politics in Comparative Perspective

• Iran’s political views divided on how to govern an economy with only one major commodity.• Rising demands, fluctuating petroleum revenues, and chance oil wells dry up.

• Both major sides claim their ideas are supported by Islam. • Iran’s attempt to enter the world stage as military force proved

counterproductive.