1. March 31 – Iranian Paradox
Agenda:
Country Briefs
Notes: Iranian Paradox
Video: Iran
Homework:
Page:
Take out:
Pen/Pencil
Country Briefs
Notebook
Notes on Iran

2. Things to Pay Attention To
Themes:
Impact of Islamic Revolution of 1979
Conflict among political elite over country’s course
Real political competition
Impact of Political culture
Democratic influences
Theocratic/Islamic influences
How power is exercised
Who
Revolutionary Guard
Basiji
Using what institutions? Informal?
Elite (and fractures)
Clerics
Factions

3. Things to Pay Attention To
Problems:
Economic misdistribution
Political corruption
Relationship with the West
Citizen and State Relationship
Participation
Political cleavages (and how the power elite plays into it!)

4. Iran – General Information
Population: 76,420,000
Capital: Tehran
President: Hassan Rouhani
Supreme leader: Ali Khamenei
Official language: Persian
Government: Unitary state, Islamic republic, Theocracy (…It’s Complicated)

6. Comparison - Size

7. The Paradox of Iran
Like a Persian carpet, Iran is complicated, multi-layered, and complex.

8. Islam 1 billion adherents Means “submission to God” Five Pillars
1. Iman (Faith) “There is no god worthy of worship except God, and Muhammad is His messenger” (Shahadah)
2. Salat (Prayer) 5 times a day facing Mecca
3. Zakah—Give to charity
4. Sawm—Fast during Ramadan (when God revealed the Qur’an to Mohammed)
5. Hajj—Pilgrimage to Mecca once in life

9. The Iranian Paradox
Paradox – 2 things that seem opposite but somehow work together
Look for the paradoxes present in life in Iran.
Political culture
Political cleavages

10. Islam Sunni Shi’ite “Followers of tradition”
Majority of Muslims worldwide
Sunnis recognized the early dynasties that ruled the Islamic empire after Muhammad (d. 632)
Voted on leader
Shi’ite
“Partisans of Ali”
Less than 10% of Muslims worldwide
Iran is the Shi’a epicenter
Shi’ites believe that after the Prophet died, his authority should have been passed on to Imam Ali and his descendants
“Hidden Imam”

11. Population 76.4 million 30 million added since the Revolution
Iran’s young population will create economic pressures

12. Impact of Geography
The north leans more to the left, due to its exposure to communism
The eastern borders are more conservative
Tehran is more developed, at the expense of poor and rural areas
1000 people/day migrate to Tehran

13. The Economy Over-reliance on oil created a rentier state
90% of revenue comes from oil
Iran is vulnerable to the global market
Subsidies are a drag on the economy
Iran needs to diversify

14. Urbanization 65% of the population lives in urban areas
Population growth will have repercussions
There is sex education, condoms

15. Education 1/3 of all Iranians are students
Students are politically active and cause problems for the state
Women benefit from education

16. The Media Thriving cinema and translation industry
Investigative journalism
A paradox: a repressive regime with intellectual property

17. Iran’s Predicament
The state has lost some legitimacy, but there are no serious challenges to its authority
Class disparities have increased
The young population will create economic pressure in the future
The clergy will be faced with having to “deliver the goods”