Political Violence and Democratic Regimes: Key Concepts

Political Violence

Violence outside state control, politically motivated.

Contentious Politics

Collective political struggle including revolutions and protests.

Institutional Explanations

Focus on state and social systems' role in violence.

Ideational Explanations

Impact of political and religious ideas on violence.

Individual Explanations

Motivations of individuals engaging in political violence.

Determinism

Belief that behavior is determined by external factors.

Free Will

Belief that individuals can make independent choices.

Particularistic Approach

Focus on specific contexts in political explanations.

Universal Approach

General principles applicable across various contexts.

Revolution

Public seizure of state to overturn government.

Coup d'état

Elite overthrow of government, unlike public revolutions.

Relative Deprivation Model

Revolution occurs when expectations exceed actual conditions.

Institutional Explanations of Revolution

Power competition leads to reforms inciting revolutions.

Consequences of Revolutions

Revolutionary states often become less democratic, more violent.

Terrorism

Violence by nonstate actors against civilians for political goals.

State-Sponsored Terrorism

State support of terrorism as foreign policy tool.

Guerrilla War

Nonstate violence targeting the state, follows war rules.

Economic Factors in Terrorism

Weak economies and education linked to terrorism.

Political Institutions

Weak state capacity may incentivize political violence.

Ideological Explanations

Specific ideologies or religions blamed for violence.

Violence and Interstate War

Revolutionary states may engage in external conflicts.

Psychological Approach to Revolution

Focus on individual psychology in revolutionary contexts.

Phases of Revolution Scholarship

Evolving focus from descriptive to psychological to institutional.

Terrorism

Violent acts aimed at instilling fear for political goals.

Nihilism

Belief that life lacks meaning, leading to violence.

Apocalyptic viewpoints

Beliefs that destruction leads to a new order.

Political impact of terrorism

Disrupts economies and destabilizes political systems.

Democratic erosion

Weakening of democratic institutions due to security measures.

Regime instability

Terrorism can lead to the collapse of governments.

Revolutionary motivations

Desire to transform or destroy existing institutions.

Guerilla groups

Accept opponents as legitimate, open to negotiation.

Indiscriminate violence

Terrorist violence targets civilians without discrimination.

Religious fundamentalism

Ideological belief system linked to political violence.

Hostility to modernity

Rejection of modern institutions causing societal suffering.

Cosmic war

Belief in a divine struggle against modern states.

Messianic beliefs

Expectation of ultimate victory for righteous believers.

Democratic participation

Political engagement that may reduce violence likelihood.

Surveillance state

Increased government monitoring in response to violence.

Iran's ethnicity

Majority Persian, not Arab, distinct cultural identity.

Farsi language

Language spoken in Iran, distinct from Arabic.

Pan-Islamic movement

Iranians do not identify with broader Islamic unity.

State violence

Government's harsh response to protests and dissent.

Rolling protests

Widespread demonstrations challenging the Iranian regime.

1979 Iranian Revolution

Event marking the establishment of the current regime.

Political violence solutions

Democracies may mitigate violence through political options.

Long-term goals of terrorism

Generally unsuccessful in achieving lasting political change.

Persians

Ethnic group migrated from Central Asia to Persia.

Islam's Arrival

Brought by Arabs in 7th century after Muhammad's death.

Shiism

State religion adopted to differentiate from Sunni Ottomans.

Constitutional Revolution

1906 protest for limits on Qajar monarchy's power.

Majlis

First elected assembly and legislative body in Iran.

Republicanism

Iran's first attempt at democracy, akin to American Revolution.

Secularists

Conflict with ayatollahs over future regime direction.

Women's Rights

Shah's modernization included education access for women.

Hijab and Chador

Symbols of modesty, later banned in public schools.

Operation Ajax

CIA-backed coup restoring the shah's power in Iran.

National Front

Political party advocating for reduced monarchy power.

White Revolution

Shah's modernization policies including land reform and literacy.

Military Expansion

Iran built military to assert regional power and influence.

Oil Revenue

Billions flowed into Iran, creating a middle class.

Khomeini

Leader who capitalized on turmoil to establish Islamic regime.

Islamic Republic

New political system established after the revolution.

Charismatic Authority

Khomeini's influence undermined the secular provisional government.

Lavish Lifestyle

Wealth concentrated among shah's family and supporters.

Protests in Tehran

Massive demonstrations called for monarchy's end in September.

Political Turmoil

Uncertainty about the type of regime post-revolution.

Violent Birth

The Islamic Republic established amidst significant conflict.

Cultural Differences

Persian and Arab cultures retained distinct characteristics post-Islam.

Modernization Policies

Included privatization and enfranchisement under the shah.

Islamic Republic

Government form guiding people towards Islamic principles.

Supreme Leader

Highest authority controlling military and judiciary.

Guardian Council

Body ensuring legislation aligns with Islamic criteria.

Majlis

Iran's parliament with limited legislative authority.

Revolutionary Guard

Paramilitary force supporting the supreme leader's power.

Constitution

Document mandating laws based on Islamic criteria.

Democratic Participation

Elections exist but choices are heavily constrained.

Voter Turnout

70% of eligible voters participated in 2017 election.

Civic Organizations

Most are state-controlled or banned in Iran.

Reformists

Political faction advocating for changes within the system.

Conservatives

Political faction maintaining traditional power structures.

Expediency Council

Advisory body mediating disputes between councils.

Elected Offices

Candidates must be approved by the Guardian Council.

Public Sphere

Area of civic activity increasingly repressed in Iran.

Civil Society

Flourished in the 1990s but faced government attacks.

Press Restrictions

2000 law limited press operations, closing many outlets.

Electronic Communication

Area of civic activity thriving despite state control.

Islamic Revolution

Khomeini's movement aimed at spreading Islamic governance.

Judicial Influence

Supreme leader appoints chief justice, affecting judiciary.

Legislative Veto

Guardian Council vetoes reformist legislation frequently.

Political Repression

Opposition faced suppression under the new government.

Nuclear Program

Revolutionary Guard's unclear role in development.

Direct Elections

Held for Majlis, Assembly of Experts, and presidency.

Internet Activism

Protests against government restrictions online in Iran.

Headscarves

Traditional attire for women in Iran, often enforced.

Ethnic Identity

Sense of belonging to a specific ethnic group.

Azeris

Largest ethnic minority in Iran, connected to Azerbaijan.

Kurds

Ethnic group in Iran, facing discrimination and protests.

Baluchis

Ethnic minority in Iran, located near Pakistan.

Arab Population

Ethnic group along the Persian Gulf in Iran.

Centralized Political System

Government structure limiting power distribution to regions.