IRAN

Part 2

cleavages

religion
90% Shia Muslim constitution protects religious minorities, but inhospitable since founding of Republic

ethnicity
51% Persian
religious cleavage sometimes reinforced by ethnicity

social class
peasants/lower middle class traditional base of support for the regime; middle and upper classes largely secularized

gender
divorce, custody, attire follow Islamic standards

cleavages, cont

reformers vs. conservatives

fundamental cleavage: theocracy vs. democracy conservatives: maintain clerical control and sharia law reformers: increase secularization and democracy

clerics: pragmatic, conservatives, radical

pragmatics: favor liberal economic policies, encourage foreign trade, free markets, direct foreign investment conservatives: private property/economic inequality protected under Islamic law radicals: enhance social justice, endorse statesponsored wealth redistribution and price controls

cleavages, cont,
peasantry and urban lower-middle class
strong base of religious orthodoxy beneficiaries of revolutionary organizations and state bureaucracy

resistance to authoritarian clerical rule most evident among predominantly secular middle class
culturally westernized strongest source of opposition to the regime

campaign to define Iran as a Persian nation (ethno-linguistic) alienates Turks, Kurds, and other ethnic minorities

government institutions
a highly centralized unitary state, but divided
administratively into provinces, districts, and localities a complex structure with a over-riding goal: to blend theocratic and democratic ideals

Jurists Guardianship

Supreme Leader the Guardia Council the Assembly of Religious Experts the Expediency Council

not divided all have broad executive, legislative and adjudicative powers, and can supersede other positions and bodies

Constitution of 1979: a dual executive the Supreme Leader and the President

the Supreme Leader

the imam of the entire community countrys most powerful political figure many constitutional powers: faqih: the leading Islamic jurist to interpret religious texts and sharia law links 3 branches of government together, may mediate among them charged with determining the interests of Islam

can eliminate presidential candidates, dismiss the president, command the armed forces, declare war/peace, appoint/remove major administrators and judges, nominate 6 members of Guardian Council

The Guardian Council

12 male clerics, 6 appointed by Supreme Leader, 6 approved by Majles bills passed by the Majles reviewed by Guardian Council to ensure compliance with sharia Council can decide who competes in elections

Assembly of Religious Experts

expanded in 1989 to 86 members, directly elected every 4 years exercises broad constitutional interpretation, along with Supreme Leader and Guardian Council

the Expediency Council

a referee between the Guardian Council and the Majles

head of state (supreme leader) and head of government (president)

The Executive:
Iran is not a presidential system President is chief executive, highest state officer after the Supreme Leader Cabinet: conducts day-to-day governance, initiates most laws

The Bureaucracy:
huge, dominated by clergy bloated, plagued by clientelism, corruption, mismanagement, patronage

The Legislature (the Majles) :

unicameral, 290 seats, directly elected by the people 290 seats, elected by single member districts, wide suffrage Control of the Majles shifts from reformers to conservatives

The Judicidary :
headed by chief justice -a cleric, who needs understanding of sharia law appointed by the Supreme Leader (1) distinction between sharia (Islamic canonical law)and qanun (non-sacred legislative acts) (2) Supreme Leader, Guardian Council and Assembly of Religious Experts have the final say in interpreting law unofficial role of watchdogs court system enforces censorship laws to curtail dissent

the Military :
Revolutionary Guards: elite military force established by Khomeini, commanders appointed by Supreme Leader as parallel force to protect the Republic from military subterfuge the Basij: loosely-organized, militia-like part of the Revolutionary Guards 8th largest military in the world advanced abilities and skills Revolutionary Guard has become an important poltical and policymaking force

Theocratic and Democratic Elements in Irans Government Structure

Structure/ Position Theocratic Democratic

Supreme Leader
Guardian Council

ultimate interpreter of sharia ; appointed for life

six members appointed by Supreme Leader six members selected by the Majles, indirect democratic tie

Assembly of Experts
Expediency Council Majles Judiciary

interpreter of sharia
appointed by Supreme Leader; most members are clerics must not contradict sharia held to sharia law, subject to judgment of Supreme Leader and Guardian Council

directly elected by citizens

not all members are clerics directly elected; pass

qanun

tiered structure; some modern penalties

parties :
while Iran is highly politicized, there are no recognized, legitimate political parties elections : highly institutionalized almost one per year competitive, high voter turnout, but not

synonymous with democratic governance

handpicked candidates, many disqualifications

Semipublic institutions/foundations:
religious endowments: bonyads theoretically autonomous but directed by clerics appointed by the Supreme Leader tax exempt, reportedly wealthy, key patronage mechanism

civil society
similar to Mao, Shiite revolutionary elites moved
to reinstall orthodoxy in public life launched a Cultural Revolution

education system expected to impress the values of the Islamic state universities cleared of liberals

despite muscular state, civil society survives

country is increasingly urbanized, educated and young vibrant media relative freedom to criticize governments domestic and foreign policy this freedom is an outgrowth of factionalism among Irans ruling elite

political participation

despite guarantees of civil liberties in 1979 constitution, Iranian government has regularly suppressed newspapers, labor unions, private organizations,
political parties exeuted political reformers or caused them to flee abanned demonstrations and public meetings

despite prohibition, protests have also continued regularly biggest popular upheaval since the Revolution of 1979: post 2009 election of Ahmadinejad
illustrated continuing capacity of Iranians to react strongly to repressive government calls for the election to be annulled dispersed with thousands of Revolutionary Guards and Basij disputed death toll Neda Soltan: has become iconic

women in the political system

veil as symbol of oppression more of a problem for Westerners? tradition of women in Islamic culture staying home, little education 20th Iran an exception and a 2-edged sword equality with a difference

divorce and custody laws favor males not well represented in the legislature