AP CoGo - Iran

Authoritarianism

A political system in which a small group of individuals exercises power over the state without being constitutionally responsible to the public.

nondemocratic regimes

A political regime that is controlled by a small group of individuals who exercise power over the state without being constitutionally responsible to the public.

Typically denies citizens their rights of participation, competition, and liberty, but there is a variety of forms of these regimes

Totalitarianism

A nondemocratic regime that is highly centralized, possessing some form of strong ideology that seeks to transform and absorb fundamental aspects of state, society, and the economy, using a wide array of institutions.

Often uses violence and terror to overcome opposition and suppress the desire for freedom

Corporatism

A method of co-optation whereby authoritarian systems create or sanction a limited number of organizations to represent the interests of the public and restrict those not set up or approved by the state.

Effectively limits public influence on policy making and establishes control

Clientelism

A process whereby the state co-opts members of the public by providing specific benefits or favors to a single person or a small group in return for public support

Ex): getting votes in elections

Rent seeking

A process in which political leaders essentially rent out parts of the state to their patrons, who as a result get preferred access and control over public goods that would otherwise be distributed in a nonpolitical manner

Kleptocracy

"Rule by theft," where those in power seek only to drain the state of assets and resources

Patrimonialism

An arrangement whereby a ruler depends on a collection of supporters within the state who gain direct benefits in return for enforcing the ruler's will

A form of co-optation (clientelism), but limited to a small group of regime supporters working for the ruler inside the state itself. All others in society are typically held in check by force

Illiberal regimes

a regime where democratic institutions that rest upon the rule of law are weakly institutionalized and poorly respected

Rule by an elected leadership through procedures of questionable democratic legitimacy.

Typically citizens can vote, parties compete, and there are regular elections. However, the executive has a lot of power and depends on referenda for it.

Courts usually support those in power and there are few legislative checks Parties and the media are present but restricted. Elections are manipulated and corrupt

Theocracy

Rule by religion or religious leader. Holy texts serve as foundation for regime and politics. Religious and political leadership fused into single authority. Varies by belief

Shiism

Minority sect of Islam that differs with Sunnism over the proper descendants of the prophet Muhammad

Imam

Descendants of the prophet Muhammad, considered by Shia to be the true political and religious leaders of Islam

Mahdi

In Shiism, a term for the "hidden imam," the descendant Muhammad, who will return to Earth to usher in a new age of

Ayatollah

In Shiite Islam, a title in the religious hierarchy achieved by scholars who have demonstrated highly advanced knowledge of Islamic law and religion

Jurist guardianship

Iran's system where ultimate political authority rests with a religious figure (supreme leader) who interprets Islamic law and oversees governmental decisions

Constitutional Revolution

1906 uprising against Qajar dynasty by secular and religious leaders to limit the power of the monarchy and resist Western imperialism

Majlis

Iran's first legislative body after the Constitutional Revolution

Operation Ajax

a covert operation by the United States and the United Kingdom in 1953 where they overthrew Mohammad Mosaddeq, the Iranian prime minister

White Revolution

reforms enacted by Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, beginning in 1963, to rapidly modernize and Westernize Iran

Sharia

The system of Islamic law. God's law reigns supreme.

The Iranian constitution and political institutions attempt to express God's will

Supreme leader

Chief spiritual and political leader of Iran. Dominant executive.

Serves for life (can be removed for incompetence)

Informal powers, commander in chief, controls the Guardian Council, appoints the chief justice, controls state-owned economic state assets Can be seen as head of state with an unusually large role in policy

Velayat-e faqih

Rule by Islamic jurists; also, Islamic Republic's political system, which places power in the hands of clerics

Assembly of Experts

Elected body that chooses the supreme leader.
Composed of 88 members (popularly elected, 8 year terms), all men/islamic scholars
Vetted by the Guardian Council so election candidates align with political status quo

Can remove the supreme leader.

Guardian Council

Appointed body that vets candidates for office and can overturn legislation

Made up of 12 individuals who serve 6 year phased terms (6 are lawyers nominated by the chief justice and approved by the majlis, 6 are clerics specializing in religious law and appointed by the supreme leader)

Can review Majlis legislation to ensure its constitutionality and compatibility with Islam. Kind of an unelected upper house.

Expendiency Council

Appointed body that mediates between the Majlis and the Guardian Council over legislative disputes

Members are appointed by the supreme leader for five-year terms
Final decisions cannot be overturned

Chief justice

Head of the judiciary. A single figure whose qualifications include an understanding of Sharia (making the appointment of a cleric necessary)

Appointed by the supreme leader for five-year terms manages judicial institutions, oversees the appointment and removal of judges

Revolutionary Guard

A faction of Iran's military and a paramilitary force controlled by the supreme leader and the clergy.

Charged with defending the regime from domestic and internal enemies.

Emerged from the 1979 Revolution. Originally just various independent groups and militia and continue to grow in size and influence on Iranian politics

Basij

a loosely organized military that is formally part of the Revolutionary Guard.

A large people's volunteer militia, which had been formed shortly after the revolution as a grassroots, civil defense force. Poorly trained and ill-equipped but imbued with religious and nationalist fervor

Bonyads

Parastatal foundations made in part from assets nationalized after the Iranian Revolution