Transcript Chapter 14 IRAN Power Point (Caroddo)

Chapter 14
IRAN
Historical Turning Points
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559 BCE --- Empire of Cyrus the Great
332 BCE --- Conquest by Alexander the Great
and the Greeks
250 BCE --- Parthian Dynasty
226 CE --- Sassanian Dynasty
638
--- Arab/Islamic Conquest
1219
--- Mongol Invasion
1501
--- Safavid Dynasty establishes Shiism
as state religion
1796
--- Qajar Dynasty
Political Turning Points I
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1905 --- Constitutional Revolution
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1908 --- Oil discovered
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1925 --- Reza Khan overthrows Qajar Dynasty
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1941 --- Muhammad Reza Shah Pahlavi becomes shah
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1950’s --- Mossadeq nationalizes oil industry; US coup restores shah
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1960s-70s – White Revolution/Khomeini in exile
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1979 --- Islamic Revolution
Political Turning Points II
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1980-1988 --- War with Iraq
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1989 --- Khomeini dies; Khamenei succeeds him as Supreme Leader
after a power struggle in the Assembly of Religious experts
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1997 --- Reformist Khatami elected president
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2000 --- Reformist candidates win control of the Majlis
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2004 --- Conservatives regain control of Majlis
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2005 --- Conservative Ahmadinejad elected president
Achemenian Empire (Persia)
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Founded by Cyrus (6th century BCE)
Largest empire in the world at that time
Survived for 200 years
Centralized military leadership
Major rival was the Greeks
Both Greeks & Persians ultimately conquered by
Alexander the Great
Alexander left Persian political structure
relatively intact
King Darius - Zoroastrianism
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Iranian sovereigns were hereditary military
leaders
Darius built capital of Persepolis
Built intricate system of roads
King’s authority supported by strong military as
well as state-sponsored religion:
Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrianism did not survive as major religion
but continued to be practiced regularly until 7th
century CE.
Shi’ism
Between 7th & 16th centuries CE religion
held Iran together
 Numerous invasions by Arabs introduced
Islam to the region
 Even when Iranian caliphate was defeated
by Mongols in 13th century the Mongolians
converted to Islam
 Shi’ism established as state religion in 16th
century
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Shi’ism II
Shi’ites – after Muhammad’s death they felt that
leadership of the Muslims should be hereditary and pass
to Muhammad’s son-in-law, Ali.
 Sunnis favored choosing a caliph from the accepted
Sunni leadership
 When Ali was killed the Shi’ite opinion became a minority
one, but they kept their separate identity
 True heirs of Islam were the descendants of Ali
 The heirs (Imams) continued until the 9th century, when
the 12th descendant disappeared as a a child, to become
known as the “Hidden Imam”
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Twelver Shi’ism
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“Hidden Imams”
12th Imam disappeared as a child in 874 CE, did not die
however, will come forward and show himself to
establish just rule at the end of times, when injustice
and corruption reign supreme (Messiah-like figure)
Ulema were willing to give the right to rule to the shahs
as long as they ruled justly
By end of the 17th century for a shah’s rule to be
legitimate he had to have the ulema’s endorsement
Ulema ultimately establish themselves as an institution
independent of the state, tithes were often paid to the
ulema directly giving them both political and economic
influence
The center of Twelver Shi’ism is the city of Najaf, in Iraq
Safavid Empire (1501-1722)
Established Shi’ite identity in Iran
By mid-17th century converted 90% of population to
Shi’ism
 Tolerated “People of the Book” – monotheistic religions
based on holy books similar to the Qur’an
 Serious economic problems do to breakup of the Silk
Road
 Had no money for large bureaucracy or standing army
 Relied on local rulers to maintain order and collect taxes
 Claimed absolute power but lacked a central state
 Monarchy became separated from society and lost power
by 1722
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Qajars (1794-1925)
Turkish people that reconquered Iran at end of 18th
century
 Moved capital to Tehran
 Could not claim to be descendents of Twelve Imams
 Shi’ite clerical leaders could claim more power as
interpreters of Islam, separation between government
and religion widened
 Suffered land loss to European empires of 19th century,
sold oil rights to British in the southwest
 Shah led country into serious debt
 Iranians upset over shah’s lavish lifestyle look for change
that would be initiated by bankers and businessmen
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Constitutional Revolution
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Constitution of 1906
– Elections
– Separation of Powers
– Laws made by an elected legislature
– Popular sovereignty
– Bill of Rights guaranteeing citizen equality,
protection of the accused, and freedom of
expression
– Majlis & Guardian Council created
– Shi’ism becomes official state religion
Pahlavis (1925-1979)
By early 1920’s Iran in political and economic
disarray
 Majlis divided by quarreling factions
 Iran divided into three parts after WWI with
Russia and Great Britain each occupying a third
of the country
 Cossack Brigade of the Qajar’s led by Colonel
Reza Khan carries out coup d’etat in 1921 and
claims himself shah-in-shah in 1925 establishing
the Pahlavi dynasty
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Pahlavi’s continued
Authoritarian rule reestablished in Iran
 Majlis loses its power
 Reza Shah passes power to his son, Muhammad
Reza Shah in 1941
 Democratic experiment of 1906 constitution not
forgotten, shah challenged domestically
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– Tudeh Party (communists)
– National Front (nationalists) Muhammad Mossadeq
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Mossadeq overthrown by CIA in 1953, Shah
reinstated
Pahlavi - OIL & the Rentseeking state
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Iran transformed into rent-seeking state under Pahlavi’s
because of increasing income from oil
– Rentier Economy: heavily supported by state expenditure,
while the state receives “rents” from other countries
Iran received increasing revenue from exporting oil and
leasing oil fields to foreign countries
 Although shah promoted import substitution policies by
1979 oil & associated industries provided 97% of foreign
exchange and majority of Iran’s GNP
 Oil revenue became so great government did not have to
rely on internal taxes to generate income, paid expenses
from oil profits
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– The people become unnecessary to the government in a rentier
state
Pahlavi Influence
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Centralized State
– State banks
– National radio/TV networks
– National Iranian Oil Company (NOIC)
– Central Bureaucracy controlled local governments
– Majlis became “rubber-stamp” legislature
– Secularization in judicial branch (European-style judicial system)
– “White Revolution”
Armed forces 5th largest in world by 1979
Patronage – shah’s boost personal wealth by seizing property and
establishing tax-exempt Pahlavi Foundation that controlled large
companies and fed their wealth
Muhammad Reza Shah formed Resurgence Party, claimed Iran was
one-party state, named himself head
Pahlavi – “White Revolution”
“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)
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– Suffrage
– Restricting Polygamy
– Women allowed to work outside the home
Islamic Revolution & the Republic
(1979-present)
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Dominant ideology of Iranian revolution:
Religion
– Leader a cleric (Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini)
– Theocracy established
– Fundamental Islam
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Causes
– Shah perceived as being totalitarian
– Balance between secular and religious state ruptured
– Ties with US and the Western world
Khomeini, Fundamentalism, &
Revolution
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Islamic Fundamentalism
– Literal interpretation of Islamic texts
– Social conservatism
– Political traditionalism
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Resentment towards elites, US, and the
Western world
– US was the “Great Satan”
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Velayat-e faqih (jurist’s guardianship)
– Senior clergy given authority over entire Shi’ia
community
Revolution
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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 shat 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)
Revolution II
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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
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Islamic Republic
April 1979 referendum held, Iranians officially
vote out the shah, Islamic Republic established
 Assembly of Religious Experts – 73 clerics
elected by the people draft a new constitution in
1979
 US-Iranian hostage crisis on-going during vote
to ratify constitution
 99% of electorate vote to endorse constitution
although only 75% of eligible voters cast votes
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Khomeini & the Islamic Republic
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Clerics consolidate power
Popular support for regime high
– World oil prices rise again, allowing for social programs,
improvements in medicine & housing
– Iraq invades Iran, people rally around the government
– Charisma of Khomeini inspired faith in the government
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Khomeini dies in 1989, constitution amended
– Ali Khamenei succeeds Khomeini, does not have the same
political charisma as the Ayatollah
– Iran/Iraq war ends in 1988, country war-torn
– Oil prices drop in 1990’s
– Population begins to question authoritarian rule of the clerics
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
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Political Cleavages
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Religion
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Ethnicity
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Social Class
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Reformers vs. Conservatives
Religion
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89% of Iranians are Shi’a Muslims
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10% are Sunni Muslim
– The constitution does not mention Sunni’s and their legal status
is therefore unknown
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1% are combination of Jews, Christians, Zoroastrians,
and Baha’i
– Constitution recognizes rights of religious minorities, many
religious minorities have left country since Islamic Revolution
– Baha’i considered unholy offshoot of Islam and they have been
persecuted by Shi’ite governments.
– Baha’i leaders have been executed, imprisoned, tortured, their
schools closed and property confiscated
Ethnicity
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51% Persian (speak Farsi)
24% Azeri
– Live mostly in the northwest close to Azerbaijan, this causes
tension with Iranian government worried that Azeri may want to
unite part of Iranian territory with Azerbaijan
– Azeri do not speak Farsi, but they are mostly Shi’ite, Ali
Khameini was Azeri
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8% Gilaki & Mazandarani
7% Kurds
– Predominantly Sunni
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3% Arabic
– Predominantly Sunni
Social Class
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Peasantry and middle class support
Islamic regime
– Benefited from government social programs.
 Provided electricity & paved roads
– Middle & Upper-middle class largely
secularized
 Critical of clerics
 Have not fared well economically under the
Republic this reinforces their cultural and political
views
Political Culture
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Authoritarianism (not totalitarianism) –
leaders claim to be all powerful, but do not interfere with every
aspect of the citizens lives
Union of political & religious authority
 Shi’ism & Sharia – key components of everyday life
 Escape from European Colonialism
 Geographic Limitations – limited arable land forced
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expansion through military conquest, population of Iran unevenly
distributed in cities and northwestern part of country
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Influence of Ancient Persia
Legitimacy of Modern State
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Revolution of 1979
– Legitimacy attached to principles of
Shi’ism
– Constitution of 1979
 Amended in 1989
Women & the Political System
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Treatment of women in Iran is probably more contentious for
Westerners than the majority of Iranian women
When shari’a law is interpreted narrowly women are considered
wards of their male relatives
“Equality-with-difference” policy – instituted by the Islamic Republic
slants law favorably towards men on issues such as divorce and
custody
– Women must wear scarves and long coats in public
– Women can not leave country without consent of male relatives
– Occasionally women stoned for committing adultery
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Women allowed to get education in Iran and entrance into some
occupations
– Expectations for better jobs and increased political rights among
educated women
– Half of college students in Iran are women
– Women make up 27% of the labor force
Linkage Institutions
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Political Parties
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Elections
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Interest Groups
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Mass Media
Political Parties
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Constitution legalized political parties, but they were not allowed
until Muhammad Khatami’s election (1997)
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The Iranian Militant Clerics Society – left wing reform party led
by Muhammad Khatami.
– Khatami president from 1997-2005
– Several prominent politicians belong to this party including former Majlis
speaker, and a vice-president
– Candidate in 2005, Mehdi Karroubi, came in third
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The Islamic Iran Participation Front – reformist party led by
Khatami’s brother, Muhammad Reza Khatami
– Founded in 1998, motto “Iran for all Iranians”
– Did well in 2000 Majlis elections
– Guardian Council barred many members from running in 2004 so
membership declined
Political Parties II
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Executives of Construction Party – founded by
several former cabinet members of President Akbar
Hashemi Rafsanjani
– Important supporter of Rafsanjani and his political platform
– Rafsanjani lost election runoff to Ahmadinejad by a large margin
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The Islamic Society of Engineers – member of the
conservative alliance, party of current president
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who secured office in
presidential election of 2005
– The “society” however did not support Ahmadinejad in the
election, their candidate was Ali Larijani, who lost in first round
Reformist Parties
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Khordad Front (Alliance between Iranian Militant Clerics Society &
Islamic Iran Participation Front) – the alliance helped win
reelection for Khatami in 2000.
The Second Khordad Front did not survive in 2004
elections as Guardian Council banned many reformist
candidates from Majlis elections
Liberation Movement – Moderate party, party founded
by Mehdi Bazargan (Khomeini’s PM), in 1961 it was
banned in 2002 as subversive organization
National Front – headed by Mossadeq in 1950, it was
banned in late 1980s
Exile parties – Mojahedin (guerrilla group fought the shah); Fedayin
(Marxist guerrillas modeled after Che Guevara); Tudeh (communist party)
Elections
Citizens over 15 may vote
 National elections held for the following:
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– Assembly of Religious Experts
– Representative to the Majlis
– President
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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
Elections II
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Majlis Election of 2004
 Feb. 20, 2004
 Council of Guardians
banned thousands of
candidates from mostly
reformist parties
 Out of a possible 285
seats (5 reserved for
religious minorities)
reformist could only
introduce 191 candidates
 51% - Official voter
turnout
 Conservative candidates
won 70% of seats
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Presidential Election of 2005
 Khatami steps down after
serving two terms
 Guardian Council disqualifies
about 1000 candidates
 Only 7 candidates run
 Akbar Hasemi Rafsanjani and
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
 Rafsanjani received 21% of
the vote compared to
Ahmadinejad’s 19% in the
first round
 In second round runoff
Ahmadinejad won with 62%
of the vote
 Rafsanjani suffered from
being unable to organize
reformist vote behind him
Interest Groups
It is difficult to distinguish between parties and
interest groups in Iran
 Most exile parties have members in Iran that
work for their benefit
 Interest Groups
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– Islamic Association of Women
– Green Coalition
– Workers’ House
 Interest group for factory workers, have a political party as
well, Islamic Labor Party
 Hold a May Day rally every year, turned into protest in 1999
against conservative policies to water-down labor laws
Mass Media
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During and shortly after revolution 27 newspapers in total were shut
down
In 1981 Majlis passed law making it illegal to use “pen and speech”
against the government
Some restrictions have been lifted
– Rafsanjani government allowed for debate in press on some controversial issues
– Khatami administration issued permits to new publications in attempt to establish
independent press
– Many newspapers and magazines privately owned
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Freedom of Press still a major issue between conservatives and
reformists
– In 2002, some 60 pro-reform newspapers were shut down
– Iran’s elite are well-educated, and private media cater to their needs and
interests
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Radio & TV are government-run, Islamic Republic of Iran
Broadcasting (IRIB)
Government Institutions
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Jurist’s Guardianship
Supreme Leader
Guardian Council
Assembly of Religious Experts
Expediency Council
President & Cabinet
Majlis
Judicial Branch
Military
Velayat-e faqih (Jurist’s
guardianship)
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The principle instituted by Khomeini of overarching
authority for different government institutions:
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Supreme Leader
Guardian Council
Assembly of Religious Experts
Expediency Council
This authority is all-encompassing and is over whole
community based on their ability to understand shari’a
and their commitment to champion the rights of the
people
Supreme Leader
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Position created for Khomeini, currently held by Ali Khomeini
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Powers of Supreme Leader:
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Elimination of presidential candidates
Dismissal of the president
Command armed forces
Declares war & peace
Appointment and removal of major administrators and judges
Nominates six members of Guardian Council
Appoints many non-governmental directors, such as radio/TV and semi-public
foundations
Responsibilities of Supreme Leader:
– faqih – he is the leading Islamic jurist to interpret shari’a and religious
documents
– Links three branches of government together
– “Determining the interests of Islam”
Guardian Council
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12 members
All Male
6 members appointed by Supreme Leader
6 members nominated by chief judge, approved by Majlis
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Responsibilities
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They represent theocratic principles within the government
Review bills passed by Majlis to ensure they conform with shari’a
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– Guardian Council and Supreme Leader together exercise principle of
jurist’s guardianship (Make sure all democratic bodies adhere to Islamic
laws & beliefs)
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Power to decide who can compete in elections
– In 2004 & 2005 disqualified thousands of candidates for both Majlis and
presidential elections
Assembly of Religious Experts
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Expanded in 1989 to an 86 man house
Directly elected by the people
4 year terms
Members originally required to have seminary degree
equivalent to a master’s, 1998 revision now allows nonclerics to stand for Assembly – candidates still subject to
approval by Council of Guardians
Responsibilities
– Broad constitutional interpretation
– Elected Khomeini’s successor (Khamenei)
– Reserve right to remove supreme leader
Expediency Council
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Created by Khomeini
Main purpose to “referee” disputes between the Guardian Council
and the Majlis
Began as a 13-member group including: president, chief judge,
speaker of Majlis, and six jurists from the Guardian Council
1989, Expediency Council passes some bills, and is institutionalized
by constitutional amendments
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Currently consists of 32 members
It may originate its own legislation
Not all members are clerics
Still appointed by Supreme Leader
Collectively most powerful men in Iran
President & the Cabinet
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Iran is not a presidential system, therefore the executive branch
does not have the same authority as presidents in presidential
systems such as U.S., Mexico, and Nigeria
President does represent highest official representing democratic
principles in Iran
Chief executive, highest state official after Supreme Leader
Directly elected every 4 years
Constitution still requires the president to be a Shi’ite and uphold
Islamic principles
All six presidents of the Islamic Republic have been clerics except
for Abol-Hasan Bani-Sadr who was ousted in 1981 for criticizing the
regime as a dictatorship
President’s Power
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Devising the Budget
Supervising economic matters
Proposing legislation to the Majlis
Executing policies
Signing of treaties, laws, and agreements
Chairing the National Security Council
Selecting vice presidents and cabinet ministers
Appointing provincial governors, town mayors,
and ambassadors
Cabinet’s Power
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Conducts the day-to-day work of
governance
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Most new laws and the budget are
initiated and devised by cabinet members
– Then submitted to parliament for approval,
modification, or rejection
Bureaucracy
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President heads up the bureaucracy that has doubled since 1979
Provides jobs for high school and college graduates
Clergy dominates the bureaucracy, head ministers all clerics
(Intelligence, Interior, Justice, Culture & Islamic Guidance)
Agencies
 Culture and Islamic Guidance – censures media
 Intelligence – chief security organization
 Heavy Industry – manages factories
 Reconstruction – expands social services and sees
that Islam extends to countryside
Semipublic Institutions
Theoretically autonomous
 In reality they are directed by clerics appointed by the Supreme Leader
 Usually called “foundations” (bonyads)
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– Foundation of the Oppressed
– Martyrs Foundation
– Foundation for the Publication of Imam Khomeini’s Works
 Foundations are tax exempt
 Reputed to have a great deal of wealth
 Most property they supervise was confiscated from
pre-1979 elite
Legislature:
MAJLIS
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Unicameral legislature
 Assembly of Religious Experts has served similar to an upper
house since 1989 (Both groups are elected representatives)
Created by Constitution of 1906, however
Constitution of 1979 and 1989 amendments
weakened the Majlis power
 290 seats
 All directly elected through single member
districts by citizens over 15 years old
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Majlis Authority
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Powers of Majlis
 Enacting or Changing Laws (with approval of
Guardian Council)
 Interpretation of legislation (as long as it does not
contradict judicial authorities)
 Appointment of 6 of 12 Guardian Council members
from list made by chief judge
 Investigation of the cabinet ministers and public
complaints against the executive and judiciary
 Removal of cabinet ministers, but not the president
 Approval of budget, cabinet appointments,
treaties, & loans
Majlis elections
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Election of 2000
– Reformists fill seats
through coalition of
reformist parties
(Khordad Front)
– Reformists win 80% of
the vote, most secular
voters whose parties
were banned
supported the
reformists.
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Election of 2004
– Guardian Council bans
thousands of reformist
candidates
– Overwhelming victory
for conservatives
– Control of the Majlis
flips from the
reformists to the
conservative faction
Judiciary
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Distinction between two types of law: shari’a & qanun
Judicial review does not exist in Iran
Principle of jurist’s guardianship means that the Supreme
Leader, the Guardian Council, and the Assembly of
Religious Experts have final say regarding interpretation
of law
Ultimate legal authority does not rest in the constitution,
but in shari’a law itself
Because interpreting shari’a is difficult it has been
applied in different ways at various times
Because of Ayatollah Khomeini interpretation of shari’a
came to be the standard that would influence all
succeeding Iranian leaders
Judiciary II
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Islamic Republic
– Islamicized the judiciary code to interpret shari’a
strictly
– Retribution Law
 Permitted families to demand “blood money” – compensation
to the victim’s family from those responsible for someone’s
death
 Mandated the death penalty for actions such as adultery,
homosexuality, drug dealing and alcoholism
 Set up unequal treatment between men & women, and
Muslims & non-Muslims
 Banned interest rates on loans, viewed as usury, which
means lenders take advantage of people seeking loans
Law
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Shari 'a
– Islamic law
– Considered to be
foundation of all Islamic
civilization
– Embodies a vision of a
community in which all
Muslims are brothers and
sisters subscribe to the
same moral values
– Shari’a supersedes all other
law in Iranian society
– Supreme leaders authority
and the jurist’s
guardianship based on
importance of shari’a
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Qunan
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No sacred basis
Statutes passed by Majlis
“the People’s Law”
Can never contradict
shari’a
– Guardian Council &
Supreme Leader must
make sure all laws apply
interpretations of shari’a
Law & Justice
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Khomeini realized that despite the influence of shari’a
judges, the regime did need a centralized judicial system
to tend to matters of justice in an orderly manner
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The interpretation of shari’a was broadened so that the
harsh penalties of the Retribution Law are rarely carried
out
 Modern methods of punishment are more common than
harsh public retribution
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Regime retained the shah’s court structure
 Appeals system
 Hierarchy of state courts
 Central government’s right to appoint and dismiss judges
Military
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Revolutionary Guard – established by Khomeini after the revolution, a parallel
military force to the shah’s traditional armed forces that were the 5th largest at the
time
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Commanders of the Revolutionary Guard are appointed by the Supreme Leader
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According to the constitution, the regular army defends the borders, the
Revolutionary Guard protects the republic
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Both were greatly strained during the Iran-Iraq War of the 1980’s
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Basij – volunteer militia of those to young to serve created during Iran-Iraq War.
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Martyred by Khomeini against the invading Iraqi troops
After the war they became the Supreme Leader’s private militia
Currently serve as the Islamic Republic’s “morality police” (Comparable to Hitler Nazi Youth)
Iran’s armed forces currently have over 500,000 active troops making it the 8th
largest military in the world
Theocratic & Democratic Elements
of Iran’s Government Structure
Structure
Theocratic
Characteristics
•Supreme
Leader
•Jurist
•Guardian
Council
•Jurist
guardianship;
interpreter of shari’a; six
member selected by the
Supreme Leader
•Six
•Assembly
of Religious
•Jurist
•Directly
Experts
Democratic
Characteristics
guardianship;
ultimate interpreter of
shari’a; appointed for life
guardianship;
interpreter of shari’a
members selected
by the Majlis; which is
popularly elected,
indirect democratic tie
people
elected by the
Theocratic & Democratic Elements
of Iran’s Government Structure
Structure
Theocratic
Characteristics
Democratic
Characteristics
•Appointed
by the
Supreme Leader; most
members are clerics
•Some
•Majlis
•Responsibility
•Directly
•Judiciary
•Courts
•Expediency
Council
shari’a
to uphold
held to shari’a
law; subject to the
judicial judgments of the
Supreme Leader,
Guardian Council
clerics
members are not
elected by the
people; pass qanun
(statutes)
•Court
structure similar
to those in democracies;
“modern” penalties, such
as fines and
imprisonment
Public Policy:
Policy-Making Factions

Conservatives
– Created by often contradictory
influences of theocracy &
democracy
– Conservatives uphold
principles of regime
established in 1979
– Against modernization
because it threatens Shi’ism
– Wary of western influence
– Political & religious decision
should be synonymous
– Support right of clerics to run
the political system

Reformists
 Believe political system
needs reform (but
disagree on what reforms)
 Advocate some degree of
international involvement
with western countries
 Believe Shi’ism is
important basis of Iranian
society
 Support idea that political
leaders do not have to be
clerics
Public Policy:
Policy-Making Factions II

Statists
– Government should take
active role in the economy
– Not necessarily communists
– Policy goals include:
Redistribute land
Redistribute wealth
Eliminate unemployment
Finance Social Welfare
Programs
 Price restrictions on
Consumer goods





Free-marketers
– Similar market principles to
the US, but in a
theocratic/democratic state
– Liberal Economic Policies
 Remove price controls
 Lower business taxes
 Encourage private
enterprise
 Balance the budget
Public Policy
Majority of policy issues among factions
stem from the “theocratic vs. democratic”
debate
 Policy issues have recently led to a drain
of the “best & brightest” from Iran do to
frustration with government
 Policy-making factional disagreements
over relationship with US & Economic
issues

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?
Economic Policy

Oil creates vertical divide among elites in Iran
 Elites with close ties to the oil state
vs.
 Traditional sector of the clergy


Instability of Oil prices effects the economy of this rentier state
Attitudes toward supranational organizations (WTO, UN, World
Bank) are mixed. Iran’s application for admittance to the WTO in
1996 rejected
– Based on difficulties in making foreign investments in the country
– US opposed Iran’s entry into WTO

Economic policy characterized by internal bickering
– Ex: Bill drafted in 2002 by Majlis would have allowed foreigners to own
as much as 100% of any firm in the country (up from 48%). The bill
came from reformists, the bill was not approved by Guardian Council.
Conservatives worry about influence of secular prosperity on Shi’ism