1. STUDENT NOTES 3 CH. 7 THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN

3. CITIZENS, SOCIETY & STATE: CLEAVAGES – Religion Almost 90% Shia, 10% Sunni, around 1% either Jewish, Christian, Zoroastrian, or Baha’I Constitution of 1979 recognizes and respects the rights of religious minorities, though Jews, Christians, and Baha’i are often persecuted Constitution does not mention Sunnis

4. CITIZENS, SOCIETY & STATE Importance of Shiism – Invaded by Arabs regularly from 7 th through 16 th centuries, bringing Islam to the region – Religion became the “glue” holding Persians together – Shia/Sunni Divide (7 th Century) Muhammad died without designating an heir Sunnis wanted the caliph to succeed (Caliphs were heads of the designated leadership, called the Sunni) Shiites wanted a hereditary heir of Muhammad to succeed (Muhammad’s son-in-law, Ali) Ali was killed, Shia became a minority, believing heirs of Ali (imams) were the true carriers of Islam – 12 th Decendent disappeared as a child, leading to the legend of a “Hidden Imam” – will return to establish Islamic rule again

5. Baha’i Persecution Baha’i’s have been persecuted because Shi’ites believe it to be an unholy offshoot of Islam Leaders have been killed, imprisoned, tortured, schools have closed and property taken by state Many have immigrated to Canada along with large groups of Jews and Armenian Christians Sunni Muslims are in a similar situation and rights are unclear

6. CITIZENS, SOCIETY & STATE: CLEAVAGES

7. CITIZENS, SOCIETY & STATE Cleavages – Ethnicity 51% Persian, speaking Persian (Farsi) 24% Azeri, concentrated in the Northwest – Shiia, but don’t speak Farsi (Khamenei is Azeri) – Fear of Iranian government that they may want to unite with Azerbaijan 7% Kurdish, 3% Arab (both Sunnis) Ethnic minorities are regularly sentenced to death by hanging Kurds and Arabs tend to be Sunni Muslim, so the religious cleavage is reinforced by ethnicity

8. CITIZENS, SOCIETY & STATE: POLITICAL SOCIALIZATION Driven from above by state and below by social practices Above: education, media, military – Seek to limit pluralism, promote nationalism, demonize the west, denounce dynasty/revere revolution, gender roles, Basij monitor activity – Official Friday congregational prayers Social practice: family, neighborhood, social groups – Tell THEIR version of Iranian history – Tehran University center of secular opposition – Trumping state efforts at obedience and conformity

9. CITIZENS, SOCIETY & STATE: POLITICAL CULTURE Intense national pride Intense distrust of “the West” Do not trust government Highly conflictual – protest Pre-Revolution – people were dissatisfied with governments intrusion into private lives in civil society Post-Revolution – hasn’t changed much! – Legitimacy issues: God, religious texts, Supreme Leader, elected institutions, people, revolution, elections

10. The 2009–10 Iranian election protests were a series of protests following the 2009 Iranian presidential election against the disputed victory of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and in support of opposition candidates Mir-Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi which occurred in major cities in Iran and around the world starting June 13 th 2009. GREEN MOVEMENT

11. 2009 ELECTION The Green Movement – 3 million peaceful demonstrators turned out on Tehran streets to protest official claims that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had won the 2009 presidential election – Their simple slogan was: “Where is my vote?” – widely seen as a new non-violent, non-utopian and populist paradigm of revolution that infused twenty-first century Internet technology with people street power

12. CITIZENS, SOCIETY & STATE The Basij, or “mobilization of the oppressed,” is a quasi-volunteer paramilitary organization with branches in most mosques, universities, government offices, and public institutions

13. CITIZENS, SOCIETY & STATE Iran has a VERY young population! – Regime encouraged large families in its first years Goods were rationed per capita, making it better to have more children – Over 60 percent under 30 years old. represent one of the greatest long-term threats to the current form of theocratic rule. – Many professionals leave the country biggest bloc involved in the region’s first sustained “people power” movement for democratic change, creating a new political dynamic in the Middle East.

15. CITIZENS, SOCIETY & STATE Unemployment : Even with a university degree, it takes about three years to find a job. And vast numbers of young people end up chronically underemployed, which has produced a widespread sense that their future prospects are bleak. Employment issues have contributed to other problems, including alcohol and drug abuse, prostitution and runaways, escape into marriages that end in early divorce, social unrest, and the flight of the educated class. Iran has one of the world’s highest rates of brain drain

16. CITIZENS, SOCIETY & STATE: LABOR MOVEMENT Concerns: – High unemployment – Low wages – Lack of decent housing – Unsatisfactory labor law - denies the right to call strikes and organize unions Workers’ House (1979) Islamic Labor Party (1999) May Day Rally is their main protest

17. CITIZENS, SOCIETY & STATE: WOMEN’S MOVEMENT Gained momentum after 1963 White Revolution – Won the right to vote – Hold public office Family Protection Law (1975) allowed for more rights concerning divorce, custody, and reduced polygamy Modern Issues: – Job security – Pay scales – Promotions – Maternity leave – Higher-level professions The One Million Signatures Movement

18. CITIZENS, SOCIETY & STATE: WOMEN’S MOVEMENT Women and the Political System – “The Veil” – required in public by regime, symbolizes oppression to westerners, but not so much to Iranian women – 20 th century Iranian women have had better access to education than other Mid-East countries About half of university students are women – Law towards women is “equality with difference” sharia is interpreted to favor males in divorce and custody disputes cannot leave the country without the consent of male relatives – Women are about 33% of the labor force – Women rarely get elected to the Majles (4.1%)

19. CITIZENS, SOCIETY & STATE: WOMEN’S MOVEMENT Gender Relations – Legal restrictions on women’s rights – Discriminations instituted by Islamic Republic – Fields of study closed to women – Sports restricted, attire incompatible with veiling – Compete in sports, at locations men not admitted – Women increasing participation in public life – Many working outside home – Universities’ restrictions on studies being lifted – Mal-veiling – Islamic feminism