Iran

Assembly of Experts

the deliberative body empowered to designate and dismiss the Supreme Leader of Iran

Basij

a large and omnipresent paramilitary organization with multifaceted roles, and which acts as the eyes and ears of the Islamic regime

Bonyads

charitable trusts in Iran that play a major role in Iran's non-petroleum economy

Expediency Council

primarily a constitutional advisory body for the Supreme Leader

Green Movement

a political movement that arose after the June 12, 2009 Iranian presidential election and lasted until early 2010, in which protesters demanded the removal of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad from office

Guardian Council

is charged with interpreting the Constitution of Iran, supervising elections, and approving of candidates for the Assembly of Experts, the President and the Majlis

Jurist guardianship

is a theory in Shia Islam which holds that Islam gives a faqīh custodianship over people. (see Velayat-e faqih)

Majlis

the parliament

Rentier state

a state which derives all or a substantial portion of its national revenues from the rent of indigenous resources to external clients

Sharia law

a religious law forming part of the Islamic tradition

Supreme leader

the person among a number of leaders of a state, organization or other such group who has been given or is able to exercise the most power; the head of state of Iran

Theocracy

a system of government in which religious leaders rule based on religious authority

Velayat-e faqih

guardianship of the Islamic jurist; justifies the rule of clergymen over the state

White Revolution

aggressive modernization program implemented in Iran in 1963 and continued until 1979. The reforms, undertaken by Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, led to rapid urbanization and Westernization

Resource Curse/Resource Trap

a paradoxical situation in which countries with an abundance of non-renewable natural resources experience stagnant economic growth or even economic contracti