1. Iran “American politicians are like cowboys. Whenever they have legal shortcomings, their hands go to their guns.” -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, 2010

2. Iran

3. Vexillology Center: stylized script for Allah, also reminiscent of a red tulip Script: “Allahu Akbar” (God is great), stylized version of Kufic script used for Qur’an; appears 11 x 2 = 22 times – 22 nd day of 11 th month of Persian calendar, date of Islamic Revolution over Pahlavi dynasty (February 11, 1979) Old flag:

4. Iran Why study Iran?  It’s a theocratic republic, the only one we’ll study; religion plays a major role in the goals & administration of the state  It’s the only Shi’ite nation; other nations predominantly Sunni Islam  It’s the second largest oil producer in the Gulf, & the fourth largest in the world  It’s been accused of being a state sponsor of terrorism, and of seeking to develop nuclear weapons

5. Iran Iran - a profile: Official Name: Islamic Republic of Iran Capital: Tehran Area: 1,648,195 sq. km. (18 th ) Languages: Persian (Farsi)/Persian dialects (58%); Turkic & Turkic dialects (26%); Kurdish (9%); few others Population: 80,840,714 (July 2014 est.; 19 th ) Population Density: 116/sq. mile Population Growth Rate : 1.22% (97 th )

6. Iran Iran - Political indicators: System Type: Theocratic Republic Constitution: 1979; revised in 1989 to strengthen presidency, eliminate prime minister Administration: Unitary; Shari’a Executive: President, elected by popular vote for 4-year term (2 terms, 3 rd non-consecutive); Supreme Leader, Assembly of Experts, Expediency Council, Guardian Council Legislature: Unicameral Majles (290 members by popular vote, 4-year- terms Judiciary: Supreme Court & High Council of Judiciary; 2 types of law, “judicial review” in accord w/ shari’a Political Parties: Loose – 2 nd Khordad Front is a loose amalgamation of reformist groups; United Front of Principlists & Broad Popular Coalition of Principlists are conservative Head of State: Supreme Leader Ali Hoseini-Khamenei (since June 1989) Head of Government: Pres. Hasan Ruhani (since Aug. 2013) Suffrage: 18, universal (recently increased from 15)

7. Iran Iran - Economic indicators: GDP (PPP): $987 billion (19 th ) GDP (PPP)/Capita: $12,800 (87 th ) Debt (Ext.): 18.73 billion (103 rd ) Arable Land: 9.78 % Distribution of GDP : Agriculture 10.9%; Industry 45.2%; Services 45% Urban Population: 69% Pop. Below Poverty Line: 19% Iran - Social indicators: Infant Mortality: 39/1000 births Life Expectancy: 71.14 (ave.); 69.32 (male); 72.53 (female); median age 28.3 – nearly ¼ is 15 or less Literacy: 77% Religions: Muslim 98% (Shi’a 89%, Sunni 9%); Other (Zoroastrian, Jewish, Christian, Baha’i) 2% Military: Male 19 compulsory, 16 voluntary; 18 months (women exempt)

8. Iran Islam  1 billion+ adherents (2 nd largest)  Means “submission to God”  Five Pillars “There is only one God, & Muhammed is his prophet” Give to charity Pray every day facing Mecca Pilgrimage to Mecca Fast during Ramadan (when God revealed the Qur’an to Muhammed

9. Iran Sunni:  Followers of tradition  Majority of Muslims worldwide  Sunnis recognized the early dynasties that ruled the Islamic empire after Muhammed (d. 632) Shi’ite:  “Partisans of Ali”  Less than 10% of Muslims worldwide  Iran is the Shi’a “epicenter”  Shi’a belief is that after the Prophet died, his authority should have passed to Imam Ali  In absence of messiah (Mahdi), authority to interpret shari’a should rest with senior clerical scholars Politics, more than religion, caused the schism

10. Iran

11. 1501- 1722 1794- 1925 1905- 1911 1906 Safavid rule; instill Shi’a by force; conquests fail to capture Karbala & Narjaf (in modern Iraq), two holy Shi’a sites Qajar rule: shahs (kings) did not have links to 12 Imams of Shi’ism; clerics claim right to interpret Islam Constitutional Revolution Protest Qajar rule Shah forced to dismiss P.M., create Majlis, accept Constitution New Constitution Characteristics of western constitutions Centered power in Majlis (eliminated in 1911) Guaranteed seats to religious minorities Starts debate: are Islam & democracy compatible Growing influence by foreign nations, especially Great Britain & Russia  nationalist reaction

12. Iran 1925- 1979 Post- WWII Pahlavi rule: “Saviors on a horseback” Coup d’etat in 1921 Focus on modernization, angers Muslims; changes name from Persia to Iran  Women can no longer wear veils  Men forced to shave beards  Religious schools closed in favor of modern public schools  Shah Reza Khan forced into exile when Brits & Soviets occupy, fearing Nazi control of oil Son Mohammad Reza Shah returns Challenged by PM Mossadeq, leader of Nationalist Front  Sought to nationalize oil fields  Majles gave broad powers in 19 Articles (Art. 19 was “et cetera”) Mossadeq forced out w/ loss of cleric support (dissolved upper house, martial law), w/ U.S. assistance, in 1953 – Shah as “puppet”?  Lays groundwork for anti-U.S. sentiment

13. Iran Post- WWII Reza Shah transforms Iran into absolute monarchy Iran is a Rentier State – economy supported by govt expenditures supported by “rents” from leasing oil fields (mostly British); effort at import substitution policy failed White Revolution : in theory, to counter communist (“Red”) influence  Declares one-party state, w/ self as head of Resurgence Party  “Modernization” Religious Corps to teach “true Islam” Land given to peasants (from clerics), fails as peasants can’t care for it Expands women’s rights Strengthens military SAVAK: secret police Exiles Ayatollah Khomeini (whose tapes are smuggled into the country)

14. Iran 1979 1980- 1988 1989 1997 Islamic Revolution Khomeini returns as Supreme Leader ; Shah flees to U.S., further anti-U.S. sentiment New Constitution (this & Supreme Leader key sources of legitimacy) U.S. Embassy occupied for 444 days Establishes Revolutionary Guard War w/ Iraq; accomplishes nothing Khomeini dies, replaced as Supreme Leader by Ali Khamenei Ayatollah Rafsanjani elected President (more “authority” than Khamenei; focus on economic reform, no political) Mohammad Khatami (moderate reformist cleric) Pres. Rights for women, religious minorities; less censorship, allow interest groups In 2003, Khamenei & conservatives push back

15. Iran Political Culture & Participation  Very nationalistic, yet heterogenous Conservative vs. Moderate Islam Large number of secular, well-educated, affluent individuals  Very free electoral system, but not really democratic Popular vote for President, Majles Numerous small political parties, but elections are non-partisan (individual based) Actual election process only about one week long (esp. Majles); most advertising is prohibited Candidates must submit names to Guardian Council, which must approve (used to eliminate Reformist candidates in ’04) Two-round election process o Candidates w/ at least 25% of votes are winners o 2 nd round for undecided seats; only top two candidates

16. Iran Primary Cleavages  Religion Nearly 90% Shi’a, w/ nearly 10% Sunni Constitution guarantees basic rights (not specifically to Sunnis) o Guarantees minimal representation in Majles  Ethnicity Primarily Persian, but significant Kurdish, Arab minorities  Social Class Peasants & lower middle class primarily source of support for regime Middle & upper middle class more secularized, more critical of government  Reformers vs. Conservatives