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Introduction to Iran / Evolution of the Iranian State

Introduction to Iran / Evolution of the Iranian State. Population: 66.3 million Territory: 636,296 sq. miles Year of Independence : 550 B.C. Year of Current Constitution : 1979, amended in 1989 Head of State: Ali Khamenei (Supreme Leader) Head of Government:

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Introduction to Iran / Evolution of the Iranian State

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  1. Introduction to Iran / Evolution of the Iranian State

  2. Population: 66.3 million Territory: 636,296 sq. miles Year of Independence: 550 B.C. Year of Current Constitution: 1979, amended in 1989 Head of State: Ali Khamenei (Supreme Leader) Head of Government: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (President) Language: Persian, regional languages Religion: Twelver Shiite Muslim 90%, Sunni Muslim 9%, non-Muslims less than 1% Country Bio: Iran

  3. Historical Turning Points • 559 BCE --- Empire of Cyrus the Great • 332 BCE --- Conquest by Alexander the Great and the Greeks • 250 BCE --- Parthian Dynasty • 226 CE --- Sassanian Dynasty • 638 --- Arab/Islamic Conquest • 1219 --- Mongol Invasion • 1501 --- Safavid Dynasty establishes Shiism as state religion • 1796 --- Qajar Dynasty

  4. Political Turning Points I • 1905 --- Constitutional Revolution • 1908 --- Oil discovered • 1925 --- Reza Khan overthrows Qajar Dynasty • 1941 --- Muhammad Reza Shah Pahlavi becomes shah • 1950’s --- Mossadeq nationalizes oil industry; US coup d'état restores shah • 1960s-70s --- White Revolution/Khomeini in exile • 1979 --- Islamic Revolution

  5. Political Turning Points II • 1980-1988 --- War with Iraq • 1989 --- Khomeini dies; Khamenei succeeds him as Supreme Leader after a power struggle in the Assembly of Religious Experts • 1997 --- Reformist Khatami elected president • 2000 --- Reformist candidates win control of the Majlis • 2004 --- Conservatives regain control of Majlis, after 2,500 reformist candidates disqualified • 2005 --- Conservative Ahmadinejad elected president • 2009 --- Ahmadinejad reelected

  6. Important facts: • Unitary • Dual executive • Written constitution • Theocratic state • Jurist guardianship—senior clerics have authority over entire community

  7. Oil & the Rent-seeking state • Rentier Economy—govt. revenues derived from foreign purchases of a resource (oil) • The people become unnecessary to the government  no need to tax • So the government doesn’t have to worry about the people’s demands

  8. Islamic Revolution & the Republic (1979-present) • Revolution – short, relatively nonviolent upheaval supported by middle class • Causes • Shah perceived as being totalitarian • Iran too secular, too tied to West • Struggling economy • Effects • Theocracy established • Sharia law • Fundamental Islam

  9. US-Iranian hostage crisis (1979) • 52 Americans held for 444 days

  10. Death of Khomeini • Khomeini died in 1989 • Constitution amended to change selection criteria for Supreme Leader (chosen by Assembly of Religious Experts) • Soon after death of Khomeini, economic development became central concern of Iranian state

  11. President Khatami • 1997-2005 • Reformist leader • Increased freedom of the press • More open civil society • Better relations with foreign countries • Free market + foreign investment • 2004 – Reformist period ended when 2,500 candidates for Majlis disqualified by Guardian Council

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