iran

Guardian council

12 member body that vets candidates for elections and ensures laws follow Islamic pricniple, rejects candiates who don’t align with theocratic system

Majlis

Iranian parliament, limited in power since Guardian council can veto

Supreme leader

highest ranking figure, controls military, media, and major policies, holds more power then president

Expediency council

body that resolves disputes between the Majlis and guardian council, mediating body to ensure stability

Reactionaries

seek to reverse political and social changes and return to previous stae of society

Grassroots movement

bottom-up political movement led by ordinary people seeking to enact change, demanding more political freedoms and fair elections

Rentier state

relies heavily on revenue from external srouces rather than taxation, dependent on oil exports

Mercantilism

economic policy that aims to increase wealth through trade surpluses and protectionism, focused on maintaining economic self-sufficiency and state control

Resource curse

where resource rich countries face instability and corruption due to dpeendnece on oil wealth that limited economic diversification

Velayat-e Faqih

principle that Islamic jurists should govern and hold ultimate authority, foundation of theocratic system

Shah of Iran

monarch of Iran before 1979 revolution, authoritarian rule

Revoltuion of 1979

overthrow of the Shah and establishment of Islamic republic, ended monrchy

White revoltuion

modernization reforms by Shah aimed at industrializaiton, land reform, and women’s rightss

Operation Ajax

CIA-backed coup that overthrew Prime miniter mohammad, increased anti-american sentiment

revolutionary gaurds

military force loyal to the supreme leader, key role in domestic and foreign policy through proxy groups and military operations

Basij

volunteer paramilitary force used for internal security and enforcement of Islamic law, crushed protest and helps maintain control

Ayatollah ruhollah Khomeini

founding supreme leader, establishing the Islamic rebpulic

Iran nuclear deal/JCPOA

2015 agreement limiting Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief, US withdrawal increased tensions

iran-iraq war

brutual conflict causing massive casualities and shaping Iran’s military policies

Sharia law

islamic legal system governing family, criminal, and economic laws

Shi’a islam

dominant branch of islam in iran

Sunni islam

majority branch of islam worldwide but a minority in iran