The Islamic Republic of IranJordan GranaPer. 4

Brief History of Iran

• Islam was introduced to the region, formerly known as Persia, in the 6th century AD through Muslim conquests.

• The Safavid Dynasty of the 16th Century made Twelver Shiite Islam the main religion of the region and its been that way since.

• Iran instituted, with both the support of the people and the government, a constitutional monarchy in 1906.

Brief Lesson on Islam

Sunni Islam

• 80-90% of the world’s Muslim population

• Believe in the Sunnah, written record of the prophet Muhammad's life, and follow its teachings.

• Do not worship Imams.

Shiite Islam

• 10-20% of the world’s Muslim population

• Believe that Muhammad’s family should be in charge of Islamic community and follow the teachings of his known descendants, known as Imams.

History of Iran Con’t

• In 1941, Allied Forces instated Mohammad Reza Pahlavi as shah of Iran.

• In 1953, CIA and British Intelligence forces overthrew Prime Minister Mohammed Mossadegh, a nationalist who nationalized Iran’s oil that had previously been manipulated by the west.

• After 1953, Pahlavi’s rule became closer to an autocracy than a democracy. He exiled Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, who returned with the support of the people and overthrow Pahlavi in the Islamic revolution of 1979.

• After Khomeini’s death in 1989, a new Supreme Leader was elected, Ali Khamenei, who revised Iran’s constitution.

Multiple Power Centers: Supreme Leader

• The Supreme Leader is the head of the Gov’t. He influences all bodies and branches of the Iranian government, directly or indirectly, and has the last say in every decision.

• Embodiment of Velayat-e faghih

• Current leader is Ali Khameini (1989-present)

Some Powers Include• Appoints Head of Judiciary.• Appoints 6 ulema members of Council of Guardians.• Commander of all Military Forces.• Declare/undeclare war.• Director of Public Media Control

Multiple Power Centers: President

• The President functions underneath the leader and handles all of the other duties a state needs to function properly.

• Powers Include• Elects politicians to the council of

ministers. (approved by parliament)• Signs bills into law• Presents budget to parliament• Sign treaties and negotiations with

other nations

• Presidential Cabinet• Consists of ministry leaders chosen

by President and other important politicians, also chosen by President.

Multiple Power Centers: Majles (Parliament)

• 290 Members

• Term Length: Four Years

• Universal elections every four years.

• Citizens of particular province for candidates from their province.

• Must be Muslim.

• Presided over by President.

Multiple Power Centers: Judiciary

• Judges elected by Leader and confirmed by parliament.

• Judges serve as jury, prosecutor and arbiter in all court cases except for a few exceptions described in constitution, typically cases dealing with federal law.

Other Important Power Centers of Iranian

Government• Assembly of Experts: 86 members of the ulema elected by the people. • Council of Guardians: 6 members of the ulema appointed by the Leader

and 6 Muslim lawyers (appointed by the Head of the Judiciary, who himself is appointed by the Leader

• Expediency Council: Government agency of 31 government officials (appointed by Leaders, typically high-ranking ulema, military officers, etc.) appointed by the Leader to settle disputes between Parliament and Council of Guardians “in the interest of the regime”.

• Basij: Volunteer militia of young Iranian men who are commanded by the clergy and often function as a secret police for the Iranian government.

• Voice and Vision: Unique government agency in charge of censoring all forms of media. Its Head is elected by the Leader.

• Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps: A “second army” that stands alongside the Regular Military of Iran. The special purpose of this army is to “safeguard and progress the goals of the Islamic Revolution”.

• Ulema: Upper class of Iran; Islamic scholars.

Elections in Iran• Elections in Iran are “universal”.

• Recently, specifically during the 2009 Presidential elections, accusations of electoral fraud have been thrown at the Iranian Gov’t.

• Difficult for Reformists to gain power; most have no faith in elections.

• Iranian politicians currently in power control government through “unelected” positions.

Political Parties

Reformists Women’s Rights

Conservatives

The Green Path of Hope

Islamic Association of Women

Alliance of Builders of Islamic Iran

Iranian Economy• Iran is a Rentier State. This is part of what allows its

government to function with as little legitimacy as it does.

• Iranian economy is moving away from an old, centrally planned-economy (fascism) towards a new free-market, as evidenced in Constitutional Revision of 1989.

Political Culture

• Iran’s political culture is one fashioned out of war, paranoia and suspicion by combination of religion

and history.

• Iran’s history also creates strong anti-western sentiment among its people.

Political Socialization• Media is entirely controlled by the government and promotes

Sharia/whatever the government wants.

• Some universities are controlled by the government, others are liberal citadels of intellect, refuges for Iranians seeking change.

• Basij enforces al Islamic moralsin day-to-day life situations.

• 82% of Iranians describe themselves as “religious”

Iran Today• Iran constantly pushes the issue of its Nuclear Sovereignty in

the UN and international community

• Faces much civil and student unrest in the face of globalization.

• Look at Daneshfar for an example of what the modern, urbane Iranian thinks and feels.