1. Iranian Linkage Institutions

2. Linkage Institutions Political Parties Elections Interest Groups
Growth in number of parties allowed by govt.
Elections
Regular and competitive
Interest Groups
Greater acceptance of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs)
Mass Media
Has been liberalized, fewer restrictions

3. Political Parties
Constitution legalized political parties, but they were not allowed until Muhammad Khatami’s election (1997)
The Iranian Militant Clerics Society – left wing reform party led by Muhammad Khatami.
Khatami president from
Several prominent politicians belong to this party including former Majlis speaker, and a vice-president
Candidate in 2005, Mehdi Karroubi, came in third
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

4. Political Parties II
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
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

5. Reformist Parties
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)

6. 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
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

7. Mass Media
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 as media has experience some liberalization
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
Radio & TV are government-run, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB)