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Iran Key Concepts

Iran Key Concepts. Majority of Iranian citizens are Shi’ite Muslims The only theocratic regime currently in power throughout the world ¼ of the Iranian population is under the age of 15, the median age is 26 Maintains a Dual Executive: Supreme Leader and President

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Iran Key Concepts

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  1. Iran Key Concepts Majority of Iranian citizens are Shi’ite Muslims The only theocratic regime currently in power throughout the world ¼ of the Iranian population is under the age of 15, the median age is 26 Maintains a Dual Executive: Supreme Leader and President Authoritarian Rule: emphasis on shahs, respect to most learned scholars and clerics OIL is the primary export : 80% of its annual budget and finances 90% of its imports Most Iranians are Persians, not Arabs. Different cultural history and ethnic heritage. Language is Farsi

  2. Iran “the axis of evil”It’s more democratic than you would think.

  3. Iran – Important Facts & Key terms • Iran was never a colony – this has led to a strong sense of nationalism • Natural resources – lack of arable land….but oil!! • Monarchy – most of its history • Theocracy – a system of government that bases it’s legitimacy on religious teachings. • Shiite Islam • Democratic elements: Const. in 1906 • Elections, sep of powers, pop sov. • Can democracy/theocracy coexist? • Rentier state – a country that derives most of its income on a single resource. Iran provides 10% of the world’s oil, and uses the income to subsidize the poor. Iran is a major player in OPEC.

  4. Some of Iran’s ironies 1) Political Culture • Secular • Fundamentalist • Bazarris • Hezbollis • Most significant popular culture issue today is the coming of age if Iran’s younger generation. 30% under the age of 20, 2/3 under age of 30 * concerns – labor and employment 2) Satus of Women - Sharia law – represses women - modesty laws - social restrictions - divorce laws favor men - punishments for women ex. Excluded from soccer games, lose custody of children in divorce, death for adultery, strict dress codes - Success of women - 50% of labor force, 50% of universities - ShirinEbadi (Nobel Peace prize, human rights lawyer) 3) Can a woman become president? Unclear, but many are running!!

  5. Pahlavi – “White Revolution” 1963 • “White” to counter influence of “red” communists • Land reform – government bought land from large absentee owners and sold it to farmers at affordable prices • Encourage agricultural entrepreneurship with irrigation canals, dams, & tractors • Women’s rights (secularization) • Suffrage • Restricting Polygamy • Women allowed to work outside the home

  6. Iran – important facts about the Revolution of 1979 Causes • Secular policies of the Shah • US foreign policy • Grass roots revolution • Ayatollah Khomeini wrote jurist guardianship while in exile…later became the basis for the Constitution

  7. Revolution • Oil prices decrease about 10% in late 70s • Consumer prices in Iran increase about 20% at the same time • “Revolution of Rising Expectations” – revolutions occur when people are doing better than they once were and a set back occurs • US puts pressure on shah to loosen restrictions on civil society, in particular restraints on political opposition • Once restrictions were eased many groups join the revolt (students, teachers, labor groups, oil workers, merchants, and professional associations)

  8. Revolution II • 1978 • Unarmed demonstrators killed in central square Tehran • Oil workers go on strike • Anti-regime rallies attract 2 million participants • Rallies organized and led by clerics • Shah flees the country in February 1979 • Khomeini returns to Iran from exile in Paris

  9. Constitution of 1979 • Document & 40 Amendments (Some added in 1989) • Mixture of theocracy and democracy • Preamble reflects importance of religion • Velayat-e faqih (Jurist’s guardianship) • Gave broad authority to Khomeini and the clerics

  10. Political Cleavages • Religion • Ethnicity • Social Class • Reformers vs. Conservatives

  11. Secularism today – much is behind closed doors • Satellite dishes • Western clothes • Parties with alcohol consumption • MohamadKhatami is “heroisized”

  12. Current leadersof Iran’s dual executive • Supreme Leader: Ayatollah Khameini • President: Mahmoud Ahmadenijad

  13. Iran – Population & Population Control • After eight year war with Iraq there were a million deaths. Ayatollah Khomeini subsequently encouraged large families, which put a strain on resource. • Today, the government supports family planning, in a variety of ways, including mandatory sex education and legal abortion. • Over 3 children and you may lose state subsidies. • Today birth control is encouraged and subsidized by the govt. See promotional video of government subsidized condom factory in Iran.

  14. Population Control Policies • How does Iran’s population control policy compare to:ChinaRussia

  15. Russia – Government is attempting to boost a declining population. • Federal Government provides $7,000 subsidy per child • The governor of a central province told employers to contribute to a Kremlin campaign to boost the birthrate by giving couples the day off to have sex. And if a woman gives birth in exactly nine months — on Russia’s national day on June 12 — she will qualify for a prize, perhaps even winning a new home. Russia wants to reverse a trend in which the population is shrinking by about 700,000 people a year as births fail to outpace a death rate fueled by AIDS, alcoholism and suicide. This is the third year the Ulyanovsk region, famous as the birthplace of Lenin, has dedicated a day to encouraging couples to produce more babies.

  16. Iran -Institutions of Government

  17. Power Struggle in Iran between Pres/Supreme Leader http://www.npr.org/player/v2/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=136176773&m=136182617

  18. Iran – Branches of Government • President’s Cabinet http://www.president.ir/en/ • Judiciary – Sharia law • 60 Minutes Report • Judiciary – controls/regulates media and can shut down newspapers.

  19. Elections • Citizens over 15 may vote • National elections held for the following: • Assembly of Religious Experts • Representative to the Majlis • President • Elections to Majlis and President are by plurality, winner-take all • Elections are done over two rounds • First round narrows field down to 2 candidates

  20. Iran’s Presidential Election of 2009

  21. Ahmadinejad vs. Mousavi • Religious hard line politician • Incumbent President • Mayor, Engineer • Critic of the United States and Israel • Reformist Politician • Prime Minister • Member of Expediency Council • Educated at Tehran University

  22. Ahmadinejad Supporters

  23. Mir Houssein Mousavi and his wife, Zahra Rhanavard Mousavi’s wife generated much enthusiasm in the election Rallies with thousands supporting her She is well educated and accomplished

  24. Pro Mousavi Rally in Tehran Several pro Mousavi rallies with thousands of people widely reported Green was the color worn to show support of Mousavi Supporters were from all walks of life

  25. American Style Debate between Ahmadinejad and Moussavi Issues debated were substantive. Watch English translation on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DNmR15Lui8

  26. Election Facts • 85% turnout (59% in last election) • Participation from many demographic groups and many levels of religious observance • Mousavi – hero to secular population • Ahmadenijad – hero to fundamentalist population

  27. Official Election Resultsproved to be a shock for many Ahmadenijad wins a lanslide • Ahmadinejad = 68% of the vote • Mousavi = 33% of the vote Was the election fradulent? Impossible to know for sure. UN observers were not allowed in, but there were some outside monitors.

  28. Election results

  29. ProtestsJuly 2009

  30. Post Election • After protests – people wore green = “Green Movement” • 1 protest had 3 million people and came from all walks of life • “Where is my vote” – many signs with this question • Killing of Neda, a protester, became the symbol of the opposition to this election • http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/tehranbureau/deathintehran/view/

  31. Ayatollah Khameini swears in Ahmadenijad Khameini went to Friday prayer and declared Ahmadenijad the winner before the Guardian Council had the opportunity to conduct recounts Some recounts were conducted, but not a full recount Why not a second revolution? Why would Khameini not allow Mousavi to win, and then over rule his actions?

  32. Theocratic & Democratic Elements of Iran’s Government Structure

  33. Theocratic & Democratic Elements of Iran’s Government Structure

  34. US Relations • Reformists & Conservatives constantly disagree regarding diplomatic relations with the US • Ex: Following 9-11-01, President Khatami immediately offered his condolences to American people, but Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei forbid public debate about improving relations with US, and implied Americans brought the situation on themselves • Nuclear Weapons • For energy or defense?

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