Iran

Overview of State

WWII -> 1953: Prime minister + Shah = Constitutional monarchy  

1953 -> 1979: Shah (dictatorship, secular)  

1979 -> now: Islamic Republic 

Overview of Nations

Multinational state 

61% of Persian decent, speak Farsi, Shia Islam 

16% are the Azeris of Turkic descent, and also follow Shia Islam 

10% are Irani Kurds, who speak Sorani and follow Sunni Islam. They have caused disruption due to independence struggles, and rebellion, and now following the independence referendum in 2017 

Smaller ethnic groups include Arabs (2%) and religious minorities of jews, Christians and Zoroastrians. 

Legitimacy

Theocracy, leaders use their high positions in religion to justify high positions in government

Ayatollah Khomeini used the success and popularity of the 1979 Revolution 

Regime

Theocracy, government controlled by religious leaders

Sharia law, Islamic law

Authoritarian

Competitive elections, but all candidates are first vetted by the guardian council, so they people don’t really have much of a choice

No effective check on the power of the Supreme Leader

Type of Economic System

Mixed economy

Bazaar’s and marketplaces

Rentier state, 60% of their economy runs on oil exports

Political Culture and Socialization

Family, mosques, state-run media 

Censorship of internet, literature, and movies 

School curriculums designed to garner support for the regime 

Iran uses history of Shia Islam and Martyrdom 

• Soldiers killed in the Iraq-Iran War revered as martyrs and their families receiving special benefits 

Ayatollah Khomeini

1. Supreme leader

• Founder of Islamic Republic of Iran 

• Led 1979 revolution 

• Supreme leader  

  • Supreme leader is a high ranking cleric of the legal system that’s based in Sharia law 

Ayatollah Khamenei

2. Supreme leader

• President between 1981-1989 before he became Supreme Leader 

• Succession issues and constitutional reform 

• Conservative 

Two presidents known as Hardliners

• Ahmadinejad 

  • 2. President

  • 2005-2013 

  • Known for period of conservatism and confrontation abroad 

  • Rigged the 2009 election to ensure second term for him 

  • Hardest hardliner 

• Raisi 

  • 4. President

  • 2021-2024 

  • Conflict in negotiations with the US over Iran's nuclear weapons 

  • Supported Russia in invasion of Ukraine 

Two presidents known as Reformers 

Two presidents known as reformers  

• Mohammad Khatami 

  • 1. President

  • 1997-2005 

  • Industrialization 

  • Freedom of the press 

  • More open dialogue with other countries 

• Hassan Rouhani 

  • 3. President

  • 2013-2021 

  • Appointed first female spokesperson of foreign ministry 

  • Opposed internet censorship 

Pezeshkian

• 5. President

• Current President

• Reformist 

• Advocating for unity and cohesion throughout the country and ending Iran's isolation from the world