Led by Ruhollah Khomeini

Created a theocracy: the regime dominated by a religious elite

Laws come from the Koran

Inspiration for Islamists all over the world

Minority of Islam

Many Islamic fundamentalists reject it

(difference over national identity and Iranian ethnicity)

Mohammad Khatami

no international conflict and stopping the expansion of society

Conservative (elected 2005)

election resulted in widespread support for liberal reform (falsified election)

Young population (about half is under 30)

*State has to deal with young people seeking higher education

*Many citizens don't know the country before it was an Islamic fundamentalist state

4th largest reserves and 4th largest producer

*Helped foster modernization (external intervention, domestic corruption, revolution)

*Resource trap: makes country poorer than richer

*Poor relations with Europe and US

*Rising prices kept current regime in power

higher clergy of Shiism

*play an important role in Iranian politics

Western influence

movements to modernize the state

*public not pleased with ineffectual and corrupt government

Set up Majlis

*didn't live up to expectations

*resulted in monarchy trying to abolish constitution

*weakness allowed US and Russia to set up spheres of influence

obscure military leader that came to power

1921- marched into Tehran- coup

Basically puppet of the British Empire

Removed conspirators from office

Centralized the military

Limited British and Soviet influence

Represented the national front

PM: Wanted to eliminate the monarch

Allied with Marxist Tudeh

Dissolved the majlis

*Overthrown by US in Operation Ajax (feared Communism)

top-down modernization

land reforms, privatization of the state, literacy campaign, enfranchisement of women

*some strong opposition from religious leaders

*led to riots

Grand Ayatollah

Exiled by Shah

Wrote Islamic Government

Argued government should be centered around velayat-e-faqih

Transfered to France b/c influential force on the people

the monarchy is a usurpation of Allah’s rule on earth

a system where the government by a clergy trained in Islamic jurisprudence would be a continuation of the political system first established by the Prophet

only government consistent with the will of God--all others should be destroyed

1. 1978 fire at Rex Cinema (initiated by SAVAK?)

2. Funerals for victims led to massive protests

3. Protests in Tehran wanted Khomeini

4. Shah declares martial law

5. Khomeini relocated to France

·      violent, suppressed opposition, people executed “in the name of revolutionary justice”

VERY violent

o   Saddam Hussein- saw Iran as a threat to his government and also wanted to seize power and territory in Iran

o   Khomeni: wanted to extend the revolution beyond Iran- Iraq was the next choice

o   Iraq- better firepower and support of US

o   Iran- people were more supportive and greater population

o  No one won

·      Political and spiritual leader, serves for life

·      Chooses presidential candidates

·      Commander in chief of army, supervises policies, calls referenda

·      Elected by Assembly of Experts

·      Head of State

·      Head of Government

·      Directly elected

·      Handles budget, initiates legislation, selects cabinet of ministers, foreign policy

Legislature

Directly elected

Legislates with accordance to Islamic Law

12 lawyers

reviews legislation

power to reject any candidate

if Guardian Council can’t settle, mediates

·      Direct elections: majlis, Assembly of Experts, president

·      Runoff between two candidates if no majority

Elects Supreme Leader

86 Members

·      30 ostanha: provinces- limited authority

·      1997- law passed more power to local governments and cities

·      direct elections approved by the Majlis

Supreme Court and Chief Justice

Derived from sharia

Hope to spread vision of Islam viewed as radical

*Shiism considered wrong

*Iranians not Arabs/don't speak Arabic

Khatami tried to improve relations with "dialogue of civilizations"

Ahmadinejad: hostile towards Israel (US ally)

Paramilitary force, 1979 defended new regime, remains potent force with army, navy, air force, and nuclear program

Peoples Militia

Lots of young boys = "the human wave" against Iraqi forces

Now serve public works

Public morality force

Islamic Republican Party: closely allied with Khomeini

Liberation Movement: pro-western movement, less religion involvement

*electoral system limits number of parties

Formed as result of 2000 election

Majlis banned them from elections/protests ensued

Khatami elected twice

Conservatives in all leadership positions

Wave of repression (journalists thrown in jail)

·      community whose members were expected to act as a unified group that embodied and served the revolution

Est. post WWII

Headed by Mossadeq

Opposed monarchy

Favored Iranian control over natural resources

Outlawed after Operation Ajax

Rise of activity when weak state

Theocracy's emphasis on "ummah"

Identity: Nationalism

50% Persian

24% Azeri

7% Kurd

3% Arab

Reformists: want reduced role of Islam, more secular, Khatami presidency

Quietists: skeptical that humans can establish true Islamic government

Conservatives: support velayat-e-faqih, oppose democratization

·      Khomeni: Revolution is an opportunity to fix the economy

·      Rafsanjani: favors liberal economics

·      Ahmadinejad: favors populist line opposing reform in favor of reducing poverty and inequality

Westoxication

Result of western imports and material goods

*Government sought self-sufficient state ownership to avoid

o   Signatory of Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty- has been developing the technology to produce uranium and other ingredients to make nuclear weapons

o   US and other nations are very concerned- hope to be able to negotiate with country for reform

President from 1997-2005

Reformist, tried to improve foreign relations