Transcript MIDTERM NEXT MONDAY (12th) 40 Multiple Choice Questions Lecture on Thursday (Feb.7) Prof.

MIDTERM NEXT MONDAY (12th)
40 Multiple Choice Questions
Lecture on Thursday (Feb.7)
Prof. Shamsie:
“Good Governance and the Case of
Brazil”
Attributes of Democratic
Government
Political equality
Majority rule
Popular sovereignty
Political liberty (rights and freedoms)
Minority rights
Political competition
Rule of law
… How do we “design Democracy” to achieve these
ideals?? How do we embed these ideals in
institutions and processes?
“Democratic” countries have varying
degrees of success with this….
Eg.: Constitutions and how rights are framed
– which rights included? how are they protected?
Eg.: Parliamentary vs. presidential systems
– different (and partial) paths to popular
sovereignty
Eg.: SMPS vs. PR electoral systems
– majority rule vs. minority rights
 and incentives for political parties
But what do institutions and
processes in “nondemocratic”
countries look like?
Can countries be “sort of”
democratic?
The Islamic
Republic of
Iran
People’s
Republic of
China
“Nondemocratic” Countries
February 5th
Authoritarian Governments:

Authoritarianism: umbrella term for
governments whose authority is not put to
test in elections (but not totalitarian),
opposition not tolerated (text p.25)
– but, great variation!
 right-wing (conservative) → Saudi Arabia, military
governments (Latin America)
 left-wing (socialist) → China, Russia
Democratic
Government
Political equality
Majority rule
Popular sovereignty
Political liberty
Minority rights
Political competition
Rule of law
Nondemocratic
Government
Political inequality
Elite rule
Tyranny, oligarchy
Political subjugation
Repression of minorities
Power monopoly
Arbitrary rule (rule by
law)
Democratic
Government
Political equality
Majority rule
Popular sovereignty
Political liberty
Minority rights
Political competition
Rule of law
Nondemocratic
Government
Political inequality
Elite rule
Tyranny, oligarchy
Political subjugation
Repression of minorities
Power monopoly
Arbitrary rule
The Islamic
Republic of
Iran
Governmental
System

“A theocracy (rule by clerics) with some
concessions to democracy”
– principle of “jurist’s guardianship” (jurist = legal
scholar steeped in Islamic religious law)
– Supreme (religious) Leader – Ayatollah Ali
Khameini

has wide-ranging powers, link between three branches
of gov’t, can dismiss President, controls armed forces,
judiciary, media
– all laws must conform to shari’a and clergy are
ultimate interpreters
Iranian Governmental System
President
(4-yr term)
Cabinet
Majles
(290 deputies,
4-yr terms)
Head of
Judiciary
Public Courts
Revolutionary
Courts
Special Clerical
Court
Bureaucracy
People
Iranian Governmental System
Military
Revolutionary
Guard
Supreme
Leader
Assembly of
Religious
Experts
Council of
Guardians
(86, 8-yr terms)
Expediency
Council
President
(4-yr term)
Majles
Head of
Judiciary
Cabinet
(290 deputies,
4-yr terms)
Public Courts
Revolutionary
Courts
Special Clerical
Court
Bureaucracy
People
Political Equality?

Council of Guardians vets all political
candidates
– barred 2000 candidates from contesting 2004
parliamentary elections (85 of which were
reformists in current parliament)

Women may vote, run for office, but many
do not exercise these rights
 Civic organizations allowed as long as they
do not question basis of the Islamic
Republic (“guided democracy”)
Majority Rule?

Iranians cannot change their government
democratically
– Supreme Leader appointed for life
– Council of Guardians not elected
Popular Sovereignty?

Unelected Council of Guardians approves
all legislation passed by parliament
– regularly vetoes legislation

Local elections introduced in 1999
– overwhelming support for reformers
Political Liberty?

Citizens (esp. dissidents), MPs subjected to
arbitrary arrest and detention
 Freedom of expression is limited, media controlled
 Freedom of association limited
– public demonstrations that ‘violate principles of Islam’
prohibited

Religious freedom limited (majority us Shi’a
muslim)
– ‘Morals police’ practice intimidation
Minority Rights?

Additional seats in Majles are reserved for
non-Muslim deputies
– religious minorities may practice their faith but
cannot hold senior gov’t positions, face
restrictions in education, property ownership
– Bahai’s face official discrimination

Ethnic minorities permitted to establish
associations
Political Competition?

No competition for most powerful posts in
gov’t (Council of Guardians, Supreme
Leader)
 Competition for parliamentary seats (reform
candidates) restricted
Rule of Law?

Judiciary is not independent
– Supreme Leader appoints Chief Justice, who
then appoints other judges

Political and sensitive cases are tried in the
Revolutionary Courts (due process often
ignored)