CoPo Iran

theocracy

A system of government in which priests rule in the name of God.

Constitutional Revolution of 1906

A movement that led to the establishment of a constitutional monarchy in Iran.

military coup

A sudden overthrow of a government by military forces.

dictator

A ruler with total power over a country, typically one who has obtained power by force.

White Revolution

A series of reforms launched in Iran in 1963 aimed at modernizing the country.

1979 Revolution

The overthrow of the Pahlavi monarchy and establishment of an Islamic Republic in Iran.

marja

A high-ranking authority in Shia Islam, often a source of religious guidance.

cultural revolution

An effort to purify the country of Western influences and promote Islamic values launched by Shia leaders after the revolution. Made women wear headscarves and purged universities of liberals

unicameral

A legislative body with a single chamber.

Shariah law

Islamic legal system derived from the Quran and Hadith.

Shah

The title of the monarch in Iran before the 1979 Revolution.

Resurgence Party

The ruling political party in Iran during the reign of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.

totalitarian

A political system where the state recognizes no limits to its authority.

Ayatollah

A high-ranking title given to Shia clerics.

velayat-e faqih

The principle of clerical rule in Iran, where a jurist has authority over the state.

Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps

A branch of Iran's armed forces, tasked with protecting the Islamic Republic.

jurist guardianship

The concept that a jurist has the authority to govern on behalf of the people.

unitary

A system of government where power is centralized in a single national government.

chief justice

The head of the judiciary in Iran.

Civil law (qanun)

The body of laws enacted by the legislative authority in Iran.

Hostage Crisis

The 444-day period during which 52 American diplomats and citizens were held hostage in Iran.

Tehran spring

A period of political openness and reform in Iran after the 1997 elections.

Tudeh Party

The Iranian Communist Party, historically significant in Iranian politics.

Colonel Reza Khan

The founder of the Pahlavi dynasty in Iran.

Muhammad Reza Shah

The last Shah of Iran, who ruled until the 1979 Revolution.

Ayatollah Khomeini

The leader of the 1979 Iranian Revolution and the first Supreme Leader of Iran. First to spread velayat-e faqih

Ali Khamenei

The current Supreme Leader of Iran, succeeding Khomeini chosen for his mediocrity

Hassan Rouhani

The President of Iran from 2013 to 2021 who wanted to improve relations with the west, advance social reforms, and was stunted by conservatives

How is the government power divided in Iran between national and regional governments?

What is the role of the Supreme Leader in Iran?

The supreme leader is the head of state. He is the head of religion for the country and interprets Islam in terms of politics and law. He can overrule the president, command armed forces, declare war, make peace treaties, issue decrees, appoints half of the guardian council, and appoints Friday prayer leaders.

What are the qualifications for supreme leader?

Must be a religious leader, must have supreme good character and God given knowledge and virtue

Role of assembly of religious experts

Meets for two days a year and can remove the supreme leader. Terms are 8 years long with no limits on terms

How is the assembly of religious experts chosen

Made up of 88 men voted through SMD plurality voting.

Assembly of Religious experts qualifications

Must be approved by the guardian council and pass a religious test

How is the Guardian council chosen

6 are appointed by the supreme leader and 6 are appointed by parliament.

Role of the guardian council

They vet candidates for office, have the power to veto legislation from the president and parliament, operates like an upper house of parliament

How is the Expediency Council chosen?

39 members are appointed by the supreme leader to serve 5 year terms

Role of expediency council

They moderate conflict between parliament and the guardian council and can make their own laws (speak for the supreme leader)

How is the President chosen

The president is directly elected by the people and requires more than 50% of the votes

Role of the president

He is the head of government that gets to pick a vice president and cabinet, devises budget, presents legislation to parliament, signs treaties and laws, chairs national security council, and appoints provincial governors and ambassadors

Qualifications for the president

Must be between 25-75, must be a well known personality, must be Shia Muslim, and must be resourceful

Majilis/parliament/legislative powers

Tries to act as an independent legislature although constrained by theocratic elements, appoints half of guardians council, passes laws, and approves budget, cabinet, treaties, and loans

What are features of the majilis

290 seats with 3 reserved for Christian's, 1 for Jewish people, and 2 for other religious minorities.

• Allows women

• no limits on 4 year terms

Are there political parties in Iran? Why?

Iran has no political parties because they were deemed Haram by the supreme leader yet there are informal organizations of like minded people

Is Iran rule by law or rule of law?

Rule by law

What are the three types of courts?

Criminal, civil, and revolutionary

What are revolutionary courts?

It's reserved for political prisoners and opposition

What are unique features of Iran's judicial system

• Stoning is approved

• homosexuality, habitual drinking and adultery all count as crimes

• 2 women's testimonies are equal to one male testimony

• secular law can never contradict supreme religious law

• highest per capita percentage of death penalty victims

Revolutionary guard

A paramilitary force with their own Air Force and navy that is independent from the rest of the military

Role of the revolutionary guard

Control a third of Iran's economy and trains terrorist groups like Hamas and Hezbollah

What are the two biggest interests in Iran?

Conservatism and reformists

Who is Masoud Pezeshkian

The reformist president of Iran since 2024. A former speaker of parliament and doctor. Wants to open relations with the west and get rid of morality police

What was the hostage crisis?

A crisis in which Iranian students took 46 Americans hostage for 444 days and broke good relations with the US

What is the role of civil society?

It changes with Iran's political circumstances. After the revolution many civil organizations were outlawed or nationalized. There was a slight civic reemergence after Khomeini's death and flourished during Khatami's presidency but died down with a new rise of conservatism

To what extent are civil rights and liberties protected/restricted in Iran?

Iran has a corporatist system and has no business centered interest groups, and citizens are regularly monitored

How are members of the Majilis vetted and elected

Members need a majority vote but only needing at least 25% of votes

Gender equity rules

Rentier state

A country that obtains much of its revenue from the export of oil or other natural resources and needs to maintain itself because of isolationism

Resource curse

Despite oil modernizing Iran's economy and society, the nationalization of oil made the industry weak and full of corruption

Subsidies

When the government funds industry (Iran's nationalized oil)

How do global economics and technological forces influence politics and culture in Iran?

• bad relations with the west makes Iran a rentier state

• highly dependent on nationalized oil

How did Iran gain control of its natural resources ?

It nationalized its oil in the 1940s-1950s to gain economic independence from the UK

What are the advantages of being a rentier state?

Allows for trade with other countries that need oil

What are the disadvantages of being a rentier state?

• allows for corruption in the government

• nationalization of oil allows government to ignore public opinion

• results in a lack of job opportunity

What supranational organization does Iran belong to?

OPEC

How has Iran's pursuit of nuclear power affected its relations with the west

The west implemented sanctions to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons

What policies has Iran adopted regarding population?

• encourage births after revolution

• encouraged birth control in the 1990s because economy couldn't support rapidly growing population

Who was Mohammad Khatami?

A president of Iran from 1997 to 2005 that expanded civil society, liberalized politics, increased diplomacy, and stopped by conservatives

Who was Mahmoud Ahmadinejad?

President of Iran from 2005 to 2013 who increased conservatism

What is the primary ethnic identity in Iran?

Persian

Iran has a median age of 30. What does this mean for the country?

This means that most of the population did not experience life before the 1979 revolution

Why did the Sarfavids adopt Shia as its state religion?

They adopted Shiism to be differentiated from the Ottoman Empire and believe leadership is chosen by God

Who was Reza Shah Pahlavi/Massa?

Military leader of Iran who took over the government in a military coup and became prime minister. He decentralized the government, reformed the bureaucracy, instituted education, established road and rail systems, and created state owned monopolies

Operation Ajax

US and UK backed overthrow of Iranian prime minister Mosaddeq in 1953 after Mosaddeq nationalized oil and formed an alliance with the Tudeh party

SAVAK

Secret police that repress opposing parties

What events caused revolution against the Shah

• fire at Cinema Rexthat killed 400 people blamed on SAVAK

• Shah declaring martial law

• Khomeini's removal to France

What is the role of the chief justice

Manages judicial institutions and oversees approvement/removal of judges

What is the Basij?

A people's volunteer militia formed as a grassroots civil defense force

What is the ummah

Muslim community

What are the two largest non Persian ethnic groups

Kurds and Azeri

What place do Kurds have in Iranian society

They are a source of activism and sometimes terrorism

What place do Azeri have in Iranian society

It creates a lot of political tension between officials and Azerbaijani

What is the quietest vision?

Emphasis on worldly political powers' inability to reunite with Islam until Mahdi's return

What is the principalists vision

Believe in supporting velayat-e faqih and oppose democratization

What are bonyads

Parastatal foundations that were supposed those who were disadvantaged but slowly started becoming a monopoly

What is an autarky?

When a country wast economic independence without trade

What issues do young Iranians face in economy

• mass unemployment

• Brain drain

What is stuxtent

A computer virus that attacked Iran's nuclear programs designed by the US and Israel

What did Israel do to stop nuclear programming

Assassinated top nuclear specialists

What are the issues with drugs and alcohol in Iran

Since they are both banned, there is a large underground smuggling network

Green Movement

Mass protests of people dressed in green protesting a possible rigged election in 2009. The government mobilized military to shut it down

Hijab protest

Women in Iran protesting the mandatory requirement of headscarves

• reemerged after Massah Ameini's death by morality police for wearing her hijab wrong

Describe mass media in Iran

• speech that critiques the government is a crime

• most western news and social media is blocked

• all media is run by the supreme leader

Revolt of 2019

Violent economic protest that called for the removal of the supreme leader

• Caused by a 200% increase in fuel price

• carried out in urban and rural areas by all ages