The Islamic Republic of Iran

1. The Islamic Republic of Iran “Independence, Freedom, Islamic Republic”

2. Public Policymaking and Implementation • Other countries: • Iran’s relationship with western countries (United States, UN, etc.) • Relationships with neighboring Islamic nations • Religious influences: • Islamic ideologies, traditions, etc. • Shari’a law • Shi’ite beliefs • Clerics and high-ranking religious officials • Political influences: • Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei • Assembly of Experts • Citizens • Especially in protests

3. Supranational and Internal Institutions • Iran holds its national sovereignty very high • Heavy western influence prior to the 1979 Revolution • Fear of loss of sovereignty • Major player in OPEC • Large oil industry (22% of national GDP)

4. Policy Issues: Economic Performance • Rentier stats – oil • Major export controlled by the government • GDP: $997.4 billion (2012) with growth rate of -.9% • Red Guard controls about 33.3% of economy • Primary sector – 11%; Secondary sector – 38.4%; Tertiary sector – 50.6% • High rate of unemployment (15.5%) which is especially difficult on women • High inflation rate (25.2%) • Some due to sanctions • Middle and lower classes most affected

5. Policy Issues: Social Welfare • Education: • Goals: increase knowledge, efficiency, familial role in education to achieve highest standard • Women first admitted into universities in 1937 • Average time spent in school is 13 years – tertiary school • 6-8th grade required • Education is free until college; military service or small fee must be paid to attend college • Fourth Five-Year Development Plan (2005-2010) • Women are 60% of some math and science fields • Literacy rate = 77% • Health Care: • “The comprehensive insurance plan” provided basic coverage to all Iranians (2009) • About 30,000 people travel to Iran for medical treatment every year • Other: • Lack of water treatment plants • Drinking water and general sanitation has improved

6. Policy Issues: Civil Liberties, Rights and Freedoms • Youth are a substantial cut of total population • Young, urbanized, and educated • Leaning more liberal and western • There is no criticism of the Ayatollah • Strong press exists in sports, economics, etc. • People are relatively free in comparison to other countries in the region • No criticism of Islam, high leaders, and some government policies • People of the book • Jews, Zoroastrians, and Christians • Reserved seats in legislature • Baha’i not protected (executions, denial of civil rights and liberties, denial of access to higher education, and employment)

7. Public Policy: Civil Liberties, Rights, and Freedoms (con’t) • Women’s rights suppressed • Woman sentenced to death by stoning for adultery (2010) • Women gaining access to higher education, jobs, and government positions • Government bans reformists newspapers and political officer candidates • Censorship of media/state-run media • Guardian Council

8. Public Policy: Environment • Earthquakes (1990 and 2003) • Tens of thousands killed • Country continues looking into nuclear power • Pollution of Tehran • One of most polluted major cities in the world • 4,460 people dies from air pollution from January to August of 2012 • Government policy: shut down schools, factories,etc. when pollution is bad; little in prevention • UN ranked 117/133 (1: least polluted, 133: worst polluted) • Worst for soil erosion (2011) • Deny that locally-produced petrol may cause the yellow haze • Switch to dual-fuel vehicles (July 2007)

9. Public Policy: Other Population and Migration: • Youth population: huge work force, more liberal (will affect public policy trends in future) • Migration of Shi’a into country from Iraq and other areas as refugees Terrorism: • Source of conflict with US since invasion of Iraq • Offered help to rebuild Iraq and cooperate in 2008 Corruption: • CPI: rank 133/176, score 28/100 • Seemingly fraudulent election of President Ahmadinejad in 2009 • Little transparency Nuclear Power • Pursuit since 2000s even though UN tells Iran to stop Theocracy v. Democracy

10. Comparison: Iran and China Similarities Differences China has no state religion (atheist) Iran’s semi dual executive Iran has direct elections at the national level Iranian legislature is not a rubber stamp China has a diversified economy Chins is Communist while Iran is a theocracy Iran’s judiciary has judicial review • Judiciary not independent • Leaders chosen by select group of officials • State controlled media • Developing media • Destroys opposition to state • Secret state police force • Unitary • Power controlled by one leader • Politburo is similar to Guardian Council • Candidates controlled by senior leaders • One prominent ethnic division

11. Future Predictions • With a change of regime in the decade: • Ceasing of hostility toward UN • Reduction of nuclear armament • Gradual lift of sanctions from international community • Economic boom due to loosened sanctions combined with influx in immigrants from neighboring countries to concentrate Iran as an education center (reverse “Brain Drain”) • Reduction in Shi’ite control due to immigrants • Long term: • reduction of Ayatollah’s and religious experts’/Guardian Council’s power with eventual separation between church and state • Lowering of oil prices will force diversified economy

12. Works Cited Asgari, Mohsen. "Iran Pollution Worsens as Thousands Die." BBC News. BBC, 01 July 2013. Web. 17 Apr. 2013. Heyne-Bucher. Munchen: Heyne, 1982. Print. "Top Diplomat Predicts Bright Future for Iran's Foreign Policy in New Year." Fars News Agency. Fars News Agency, 17 Mar. 2013. Web. 16 Apr. 2013 "Iran: Pollution Causes Shutdown in Tehran." BBC News. BBC, 23 Nov. 2010. Web. 17 Apr. 2013. "Iran Profile." BBC News. BBC, 04 Sept. 2013. Web. 17 Apr. 2013. Kesselman, Mark, Joel Krieger, and William Joseph A. Introduction to Comparative Politics. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2007. Print. "The Smoggiest of All Capitals." The Economist. The Economist, 29 Dec. 2010. Web. 16 Apr. 2013. Warrick, Jo. "No Shift in Iran's Nuclear Behaviour, despite Sanctions." The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 19 Mar. 2013. Web. 17 Apr. 2013. "The World Fact Book: Iran." Central Intelligence Agency. CIA, n.d. Web. 16 Apr. 2013.