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STUDENT NOTES - 1

STUDENT NOTES - 1. Islamic Republic of Iran created by Revolution of 1979 (1) first religious revolution in modern history (2) culminated in rapid downfall of a powerful, long-standing autocratic regime (3) used religion as the primary agency of political mobilization

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STUDENT NOTES - 1

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  1. STUDENT NOTES - 1

  2. Islamic Republic of Iran • created by Revolution of 1979 • (1) first religious revolution in modern history • (2) culminated in rapid downfall of a powerful, long-standing autocratic regime • (3) used religion as the primary agency of political mobilization • (4) establishment of a theocracy in late 20th century, infused with strong democratic elements • Blending of theocratic and democratic features in Iran’s constitution • split legitimacy • recognizes principles of popular sovereignty and separation of powers • but, legitimacy also rests on conformity to a revealed body of religious law

  3. Overview: The Big Picture • System of Government: Mixed Theocratic-Presidential System • Distribution of Power: Unitary System • Electoral System: SMDP • Constitution: Constitution of 1979 • Legislature: Unicameral—Majles • Current Head of State: Ayatollah Ali Khanenei, Supreme Leader • Head of Government: Hassan Rouhani • Major Political Parties: “conservatives”, “pragmatists”, and “radicals”

  4. Population: 76 million Territory: 636,296 sq. miles Year of Independence: 550 B.C. Year of Current Constitution: 1979, amended in 1989 Language: Persian, regional languages Religion: Twelver Shiite Muslim 90%, Sunni Muslim 10%, non-Muslims less than 1% Country Bio: Iran

  5. Sovereignty, Authority, and Power • Constitutional Revolution (1905-1909) • Constitution of 1906 • Direct elections • Separation of powers • Laws made by elected legislature • Very strong – controlled cabinet members • Popular sovereignty • Bill of Rights • Retained Shiism as official religion • Created Guardian Council of clerics • veto power

  6. Sovereignty, Authority, and Power • 1921 - Reza Shah carried out coup d’etat • 4 years later named himself “shah-in-shah” (king of kings) • Ruled with iron fist; Majles lost its power • Changed name from Persia to Iran • 1941 son, Muhammad Reza Shah took power in 1941 • formed SAVAK: secret police • authoritarian regim • Rise of the National Front (opposition) • Led by Muhammad Mosaddeq • Drew support from middle class • Emphasized Iranian nationalism

  7. Sovereignty, Authority, and Power • Mosaddeq advocated nationalizing the British owned-company that monopolized Iran’s oil business • Also wanted to take armed forces out from under shah’s control • Elected Prime Minister in 1951 • Power grew & forced shah to flee country in 1953 • British and U.S. orchestrated overthrow of Mosaddeq & restored shah to power…Why?

  8. Sovereignty, Authority, and Power • The Shah’s Downfall: • Became more distant from people over the years • Became very wealthy • Ignored civil liberties • Stifled newspapers, political parties, and professional associations • Alienated clergy, intelligentsia, and urbanites • Overstepped bounds of political culture: • Perceived as being totalitarian • Secularized too fast • Offended nationalists and clergy with ties to west (particularly U.S.) • Opposition to the Shah also became opposition to the U.S.

  9. Sovereignty, Authority, and Power • 1979 REVOLUTION • Causes • Shah perceived as being totalitarian • Iran too secular, too tied to West • Struggling economy • Effects • Theocracy established • Sharia law • Fundamental Islam • Charismatic leader – Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini • Shah fled country in Feb 1979

  10. Sovereignty, Authority, and Power • Who and Why? Iranian Revolutions • Who? Middle Class Urban Revolution! • Coalition of intellectuals, university and high school students and teachers, bazaar merchants, politically active clerics and seminarians, industrial workers, and finally, state employees and white-collared workers • Why? Anti-Shah, Anti-USA • Despotism, corruption, and the alliances with the United States and Israel united such diverse ideological factions as liberal adherents to 1906 constitution, Marxist-Leninist leftists and Islamists

  11. Sovereignty, Authority, and Power • Islamic Revolution 1979 • Motivated by religion: traditionalists v. modernists • Leader: Ayatollah Khomeini • Islamic fundamentalism • Jurist’s guardianship – shia term granting supreme authority to clergy • Supporters: labor, merchants, students, middle class • April 1979 national referendum was held – voted out monarchy established Islamic Republic • Established a new constitution • Ayatollah Khomeini (Supreme Leader)

  12. Sovereignty, Authority, and Power • 1905 --- Constitutional Revolution • 1908 --- Oil discovered • 1925 --- Reza Khan overthrows Qajar Dynasty • 1941 --- Muhammad Reza Shah Pahlavi becomes shah • 1950’s --- Mossadeq nationalizes oil industry; US coup d'état restores shah • 1960s-70s --- White Revolution/Khomeini in exile • 1979 --- Islamic Revolution

  13. Iran Hostage Crisis • American embassy hostages held for 444 days from 1979-1981 • Believed that purpose could be to undercut PM Bazargan

  14. Cultural Revolution • Launched by Shia leaders after revolution • Aimed to purify the country from the shah’s regime, secular values, and western influences • Purged universities of liberals • Suppressed all opposition

  15. Sovereignty, Authority, and Power • Iran-Iraq War: 1980-1988 • The perfect thing for Ayatollah Khomeini • War = National Unity • Provoked by Saddam Hussein of Iraq • Allowed the regime to consolidate power by calling for national unity in the face of a foreign invader • The war became a means to suppress domestic discontent • US supported Saddam and Iraq with billions of dollars of military aide!

  16. Iran-Iraq War (1980-88) • Started when Iraq invaded Iran by land and air • People rallied around the govt in response • Ended in 1988 with a UN-brokered cease-fire

  17. Sovereignty, Authority, and Power • Khomeini died in 1989 • Ayatollah Ali Khamenei • Change in constitution

  18. Sovereignty, Authority, and Power • President Mohammad Khatami (1997-2005) • Reformist and surprise winner • Easier to organize political groups • Less censorship of press • Tried to improve relations with US and other Western countries • Reformist Khatami was left isolated by conservative resurgence • Hard line conservatives disqualified moderates from 2004 parliamentary elections

  19. Sovereignty, Authority, and Power • President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (2005-2013) • Tehran's ultra-conservative mayor • Won a run-off vote in presidential elections in June 2005, defeating his rival, the former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani • First non-cleric president in 24 years

  20. President Ahmadinejad (2005-2013) • Council of Guardians rejected candidacies of popular reformers • Further restrict public freedom • Several major reformist newspapers closed • Journalists and civil society activists arrested • Jailed internet users who spread information “aimed at disturbing the public mind” • Morality police and vigilantes to enforce Islamic dress codes & prevent public mingling of men and women • Increasing reports of arrest, torture, and executions • Sharia more strictly enforce • Called for destruction of Israe • Questioned reality of Holocaust • Increased nuclear fuel research

  21. Sovereignty, Authority, and Power • President Rouhani (Elected 2013) • Moderate cleric

  22. Sovereignty, Authority, and Power • 1980-1988 --- War with Iraq • 1989 --- Khomeini dies; Khamenei succeeds him as Supreme Leader after a power struggle in the Assembly of Religious Experts • 1997 --- Reformist Khatami elected president • 2000 --- Reformist candidates win control of the Majlis • 2004 --- Conservatives regain control of Majlis, after 2,500 reformist candidates disqualified • 2005 --- Conservative Ahmadinejad elected president • 2009 --- Ahmadinejad reelected

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