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RYAN STARR, MUHAMMAD AKRAM, YOON JUNG JANG, JORDAN EPP, NIK BLANKS, SANA KHANIslamic Republic of IranIntroductionIslamCultural HistoryPolitical RuleViolence

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GeographyArid68% Urban4th largest oil exporter83% literateOrigins of GovernmentIslamic Revolution of 1979Ayatollah Khomeni

Levels of GovernmentUnitaryCentralizedTheocracy with Democratic Processes30 provincial governor-generalsExecutiveIslamic ConstitutionPresident (HOG, HOS)Supreme LeaderAssembly of ExpertsNo Vice President: Presidential DeputiesAdd recent election results on next slide

2013 Presidential Election

8LegislatureUnicameralMajlesAsymmetric

MajlesArabic term for assemblyIranian ParliamentRegular elections every 4 years

Majles290 Seatsrepresent the nationQanuns (statutes)

Guardian CouncilCommittee created in Iranian constitution to oversee Majles12 members (all male)Sharia (divine law)

Powers of MajlesMaking/changing lawsSupervising affairs of stateApproving/Ousting cabinet ministersChoosing half of GCMany powers but must be approved by GCPowers of GCRepresent theocratic principlesReview bills passed by MajlesDecides who can compete in electionsExpediency Council Committee set up in Iran to resolve differences between the Majles (parliament) and the Guardian Council

Electoral SystemPlurality, winner-take-allONLY for Majles2 rounds of elections1st round narrows down to 2 candidatesRun-offs

Recent ElectionFair ElectionsGuardian Council approves candidates before voting2004: conservatives win but lowest voter turnout2009: more voter turnout but controversial

2012 Election

PolicymakingHighly complexConstitution vs. ruling clergyMany amendmentsMaslahatreasons of state

Political PartiesNot competitiveNo huge role in politicsCoalitions and groupsInterest groups vs political parties

Major Political PartiesIslamic Iran Participation FrontIslamic Labor PartyFormed by Khatami reformist supportersServants of ReconstructionFormed by RafsanjaniCentristLeadership and Elite Recruitment

ElitesClergyInterest GroupsIslamic Association of WomenGreen CoalitionWorkers' HouseBureaucracyRole in Policy MakingClergyMinistersMajor MinistriesMilitaryClergyMilitaryRevolutionary guardLaw Enforcement Forces of Islamic Republic of Iran(Gendarmerie)VEVAK

Judiciary

Court systemRetained the Shahs court structure.IndependentConstitutionHead of the Judiciary is appointed by the LeaderThe clergy are regarded as the ultimate interpreters of the Shari'aLawThe Penal CodeJudicial Review

Iran: Day 2Political and Economic TrendsIslamic Revolution 1979Ayatollah Ruhollah KhomeiniDominant ideology was religion instead of communismTheocracy Islamic Fundamentalism

Iraq-Iran War of 1980Saddam Hussein lead IraqOfficially began with an Iraqi land and air invasion of western Iran War over disputed territory

Social Movements Jurists Guardianship Intermingling of politics with religionDual society society and economy are sharply divided

Social MovementsCultural Revolution Purify the country White Revolution Fight against Communism

Influences on Modern Political SystemPeople of the BookMonotheistic people who subjected their lives to the holy scripture.Majles (Legislature)Guardian Council

PahlavisWhite Revolution Focused on land reformEncourage farmers to be modern entrepreneursImport Substitution Industrialization

PahlavisTransformed Iran into a rentier stateHeavily supported by state expenditures, while receiving rent from other countriesIncome from exporting oil and leasing out oil fieldsNo longer had to rely on internal taxes

Effects of Rentier StateTransformed Iran into a one product economyCreation of a divide in the societyBrought Globalization Islamic Revolution and the Republic 1979-presentFundamentalism Jurist Guardianship Assembly of Religious Experts73-man assembly of clerics elected directly by the people

Islamic RepublicEconomics is For Donkeys Khomeinis response to questions about the economySaid to be the reason for Irans inchoate economy

Islamic RepublicReformers v. Conservatives Debate about the merits of a theocracy v. a democracy Statists v. Free-marketersDebate about command economy v. market economy

Globalization OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries)Major trade between developed countries in the west.

Political Culture Government has maintained legitimacy among its peopleRequests for reformsIranian citizens feel oppressed compared to other countries

Political SocializationEducation system Military conscription The media

CleavagesReligion Shiite vs SunniEthnicitySocial classLarge differences in political views

Political ParticipationThere are multiple political parties that range in the spectrum and fall under categories named above. Including Islamic Society of EngineersFront of Islamic Revolution Stability Moderation and Development Party Combatant Clergy Association Islamic Coalition PartyPolitical Violence Examples Protests over drop in currency value Hunger strikes led by Dervishes

Women in PoliticsAccess to education Lack of decision making abilities There are 9 women currently in the Iranian CabinetThe most there have been is 13Protests and revolts Shirin Ebadi

Influences on Public PolicySupreme leader has final say in every decisionPresident sets policy but parliament can propose policyGuardian Council

Supranational InfluenceUNObserver of WTOOPEC

Economic Performance10% unemployment rateProjected 35% inflation rate at end of year

Social WelfareEducation reformed significantly since 1979Islamic influenceLarge increase in literacy rateConstitutional right to healthcare14 million below poverty lineMostly Urban

Civil Liberties

Violate international human rights normsHarsh penalties for crimes and punishment of victimless crimesRestrictions on freedom of speech and the pressRestrictions on freedom of religion and gender equalityCapital punishment (high death penalty)EnvironmentLots of air pollutionTehran is one of the most polluted cities in the worldPolluted WaterGarbage disposal problems

Migration

Abundant flows of emigration and immigrationBrain drainRefugee haven, mainly for Afghans and IraqisSteep urban growth ratesTerrorismCinema Rex fire (1978)Chain murders 1998Various bombings: Mashhad & Zanedan Jundallah - terrorist organization

61CorruptionLow government transparencyAhmadinejad proposed to investigate members of the legislatureExploded during the Ahmadinejad yearsOther IssuesNuclear powerDramatic rise in HIVDrug use