IRANPart 1

Islamic Republic of IranIslamic Republic of Iran created by Revolution of 1979created by Revolution of 1979 (1) first religious revolution in (1) first religious revolution in modernmodern

historyhistory (2) culminated in rapid downfall of a (2) culminated in rapid downfall of a

powerful, long-standing autocratic regimepowerful, long-standing autocratic regime (3) used religion as the primary agency of (3) used religion as the primary agency of

political mobilizationpolitical mobilization (4) establishment of a (4) establishment of a theocracytheocracy in late in late

2020thth century, infused with strong democratic century, infused with strong democratic elementselements

(5) inaugurated a wave of political (5) inaugurated a wave of political activism in the Muslim worldactivism in the Muslim world

blending of theocratic and blending of theocratic and democratic features in Iran’s democratic features in Iran’s constitutionconstitution– split legitimacysplit legitimacy– recognizes principles of popular recognizes principles of popular

sovereignty and separation of sovereignty and separation of powerspowers

– butbut, legitimacy also rests on , legitimacy also rests on conformity to a conformity to a revealedrevealed body of body of religious lawreligious law

significant datessignificant dates

559 BC559 BC The first world empire (Achemenian Empire) The first world empire (Achemenian Empire) founded by Cyrus the Greatfounded by Cyrus the Great

570 - 632570 - 632 life span of the Prophet Muhammadlife span of the Prophet Muhammad637-651637-651 Arab armies defeat Persia, introduce IslamArab armies defeat Persia, introduce Islam1501-17221501-1722 Safavid Empire founded, shi’ism established as Safavid Empire founded, shi’ism established as

Persia’s state religionPersia’s state religion1794-19251794-1925 Qajar dynasty replaced the Safavids, retained Qajar dynasty replaced the Safavids, retained

Shi’ismShi’ism1925-19791925-1979 The Pahlavi dynastyThe Pahlavi dynastyWorld War World War II

Iran occupied by Russian, British and German Iran occupied by Russian, British and German troopstroops

19791979 Shah’s regime falls, Khomeini declares Islamic Shah’s regime falls, Khomeini declares Islamic RepublicRepublic

1980-19881980-1988 war with Iraqwar with Iraq

strategic location in Persian Gulfstrategic location in Persian Gulf much of country not arable much of country not arable skewed skewed

demographic distributiondemographic distribution– world’s 17world’s 17thth largest population largest population– 70% of population lives in 30% of the land70% of population lives in 30% of the land

much of Iran is rural and historically much of Iran is rural and historically nomadic/pastoralnomadic/pastoral

89% Shi’ite Muslim89% Shi’ite Muslim the 2the 2ndnd largest exporter within OPEC, 4 largest exporter within OPEC, 4thth

largest exporter in the worldlargest exporter in the world proven oil reserves: 10% of world’s total, proven oil reserves: 10% of world’s total,

plus 15% of world’s natural gas reservesplus 15% of world’s natural gas reserves

Shi’ismShi’ism from 7from 7thth to 16 to 16thth centuries, region of Iran was centuries, region of Iran was

disunified and frequently invadeddisunified and frequently invaded the glue that would eventually hold Persians the glue that would eventually hold Persians

together was religiontogether was religion– survived subsequent invasions and changes in survived subsequent invasions and changes in

political leaderhippolitical leaderhip– vital source of identity for Iraniansvital source of identity for Iranians

Shi’ismShi’ism established as the state religion in established as the state religion in the 16the 16thth century century

division from Sunni Muslims: division from Sunni Muslims: – the prophet died without a designated heirthe prophet died without a designated heir– Sunnis favored choosing the caliph from existing Sunnis favored choosing the caliph from existing

leadershipleadership– Shi’ias argued that only descendants of Ali should Shi’ias argued that only descendants of Ali should

leadlead

messianic belief messianic belief challenge to challenge to

legitimacy of all secular authoritylegitimacy of all secular authority

shi’ite clerics: more independent, shi’ite clerics: more independent, more hostile to secular powermore hostile to secular power

secure income from voluntary secure income from voluntary religioius taxesreligioius taxes

Safavids (1501-1722)Safavids (1501-1722) characteristics:characteristics:

– converted Iranians to Shi’ismconverted Iranians to Shi’ism– ruled from inland Isfahan, relied on local ruled from inland Isfahan, relied on local

leadersleaders– claimed descent from 12 imamsclaimed descent from 12 imams

influences on modern political system:influences on modern political system:– 90% of modern Iranians are Shi’ite90% of modern Iranians are Shi’ite– tradition of isolationtradition of isolation– foundations for a theocracyfoundations for a theocracy

Qajars (1794 – 1925)Qajars (1794 – 1925) characteristics:characteristics:

– Turkish invadersTurkish invaders– ruled from coastal Tehran ruled from coastal Tehran – retained Shi’ism retained Shi’ism – domination by other countriesdomination by other countries

influences on modern political system:influences on modern political system:– tradition of trade/contacttradition of trade/contact– foundations of secularismfoundations of secularism– failures of regime led to Constitutional failures of regime led to Constitutional

Revolution of 1905 Revolution of 1905 representative representative governmentgovernment

Pahlavis (1925-1979)Pahlavis (1925-1979) characteristics:characteristics:

– overthrew representative governmentoverthrew representative government– centralized power in shahcentralized power in shah– increased reliance on oil income increased reliance on oil income

creation of rentier statecreation of rentier state– contact with West, secularizationcontact with West, secularization– corruptioncorruption

influences on modern political system:influences on modern political system:– reinforced authoritarian rulereinforced authoritarian rule– corruptioncorruption– increased secularization, followed by increased secularization, followed by

reestablishment of theocracyreestablishment of theocracy

eventual democratic opposition to absolute rule of eventual democratic opposition to absolute rule of Reza Shah: Reza Shah: Muhammad MosaddeqMuhammad Mosaddeq– NATIONAL FRONTNATIONAL FRONT: supported by middle class : supported by middle class

peoplepeople who emphasized Iranian nationalism,who emphasized Iranian nationalism, advocated nationalizing British-owned advocated nationalizing British-owned

companies that monopolized oilcompanies that monopolized oil take military out from under control of take military out from under control of

shahshah– Mosaddeq elected Prime Minister in 1951, Mosaddeq elected Prime Minister in 1951,

forced shah to flee the country in 1953forced shah to flee the country in 1953– Great Britain and US co-sponsored move to Great Britain and US co-sponsored move to

overthrow Mosaddeq and restore shah to overthrow Mosaddeq and restore shah to powerpower

The Islamic Revolution and the Republic (1979 – The Islamic Revolution and the Republic (1979 – Present)Present)

distinguish from other modern revolutions distinguish from other modern revolutions (Russia, China, Mexico): in Iran, almost (Russia, China, Mexico): in Iran, almost completely based on religioncompletely based on religion

the shah divided political culture, and a the shah divided political culture, and a clerical elite rose up, led a revolution, and clerical elite rose up, led a revolution, and took over the governmenttook over the government

charismatic leader: Ayatollah Ruhollah charismatic leader: Ayatollah Ruhollah KhomeiniKhomeini

(1): defended fundamentalism(1): defended fundamentalism (2): articulated resentment against elites (2): articulated resentment against elites

and the Westand the West

2 factors sparked the revolution:2 factors sparked the revolution:

(1) late 1970s, decrease in oil prices (1) late 1970s, decrease in oil prices combined with increase in consumer pricescombined with increase in consumer prices– “ “revolution of rising expectations”revolution of rising expectations”

(2) under pressure from USA, shah loosened (2) under pressure from USA, shah loosened restraints on oppositionrestraints on opposition– unleashed support for revolution from unleashed support for revolution from

diverse groupsdiverse groups shah fled the countryshah fled the country

April, 1979: referendum officially ended the April, 1979: referendum officially ended the

monarchy and established the Islamic monarchy and established the Islamic Republic of IranRepublic of Iran

Assembly of Religious Experts wrote Assembly of Religious Experts wrote constitutionconstitution– gave broad authority to Ayatollah and gave broad authority to Ayatollah and

clergyclergy

clergy launched a Cultural Revolutionclergy launched a Cultural Revolution– purify Iran from the shah’s rule purify Iran from the shah’s rule andand from from

secular values and behavior, especially secular values and behavior, especially Western-inspiredWestern-inspired

– government suppressed all oppositiongovernment suppressed all opposition

1989 - present1989 - present consolidation of clerical power under consolidation of clerical power under

Khomeini aided by popular support:Khomeini aided by popular support:– oil prices reboundedoil prices rebounded– Iraq warIraq war– personal charisma of Ayatollahpersonal charisma of Ayatollah

Ali Khamenei lacks personality and Ali Khamenei lacks personality and credentials of Khomenicredentials of Khomeni– greater questioning of authoritarian clerical rulegreater questioning of authoritarian clerical rule– Iraq was ended in 1988, world oil prices fell Iraq was ended in 1988, world oil prices fell

again in 1990sagain in 1990s ongoing conflict between theocratic and ongoing conflict between theocratic and

democratic valuesdemocratic values