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Iranian Vexilology

Iranian Vexilology. The old Persian flag. Stylized script for Allah Tulip Double powered sword. Allah akbar is the stylized script on the flag which appears 11 Times inside the green stripe and 11 times inside the red stripe. 11/22 was the date of the 1979 Revolution. Overview.

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Iranian Vexilology

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  1. Iranian Vexilology The old Persian flag Stylized script for Allah Tulip Double powered sword Allah akbar is the stylized script on the flag which appears 11 Times inside the green stripe and 11 times inside the red stripe. 11/22 was the date of the 1979 Revolution

  2. Overview 67% of population lives in the Caspian provinces 2nd larges oil producer in the gulf; 4th largest in the world Indo-Europeans in the distant past Gave the country its name (Land of Aryans) Persian (Farsi) is the language Iranians are NOT Arabs

  3. Overview 67% of population lives in the Caspian provinces 2nd larges oil producer in the gulf; 4th largest in the world Indo-Europeans in the distant past Gave the country its name (Land of Aryans) Persian (Farsi) is the language Iranians are NOT Arabs

  4. GDP = $987 Billion GDP growth = -1.7% GDP/capita = $12,800 Debt = 19% of GDP Poverty = 18.7% Infant mortality = 39/1000 Life expectancy = 71

  5. Iran: Ethnic Groups Iran: Religions

  6. Languages

  7. Iranian Currency (IRR) Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini (1902-1989) Supreme Leader 1979-1989 Exchange rate: $1 = 10,308

  8. Islam 1 billion + adherents (2nd largest) Means “submission to God” Five Pillars: 1. “There is only one God, and Muhammad is is his prophet” 2. Give to charity 3. Pray every day facing Mecca 4. Pilgrimage to Mecca 5. Fast during Ramadan (when God revealed the Qur’an to Mohammed)

  9. Islam Sunni Shi’ite “Partisans of Ali” Less than 10% of Muslims worldwide Iran is the Shi’a epicenter Shi’ia believe that after the Prophet died, his Authority should have been passed on to Imam Ali In the absence of the messiah (Mahdi) the Authority to interpret shari’a should be in the Hands of the senior clerical scholars “Followers of tradition” Majority of Muslims worldwide Sunnis recognized the early Dynasties that ruled the Islamic Empire after Muhammed (d. 632) Politics, more than religion, has Caused the schism

  10. Eliminating a ton of detail From Iran Modern Iran traces back to the Safavid dynasty (1501-1722). They installed Shi’ism Leaders called Shah (King) Qajar Dynasty (1794-1925) gained control after A series of civil wars. Qajarmis-rule during and indebtedness to the West led to a 1906 constitution that included Elections, separation of powers, a Majles (parliament), A limited shah, and Shi’ism Checkmate – from the Persian shah mat – “the king is left helpless”

  11. Political Organization Political System: - Mixture of democracy and theocracy - headed by cleric with title of Leader Executive Can be overruled and Dismissed by chief cleric Elections held every 4 years Chooses cabinet members w/ approval of Majles

  12. Council of Guardians Legislature: - unicameral - 290 seats; elected every 4 years - bills passed by Majles only become law w/ approval of Council of Guardians Judiciary: - Chief Judge and a Supreme Court independent of executive and legislature - Appointed by Leader Me again!

  13. The Pahlavi Dynasty (1925-1979) Post-WWII, Muhammad Reza Pahlavi became The Shah in a constitutional (limited) monarchy Brits were still heavily involved through the Anglo- Persian Oil Company

  14. 1953 Coup Democratically elected parliament nationalized the Oil industry CIA & Britain financed a coup that returned the Shah to lead an authoritarian state. - 1953 coup is the origin of Iran’s distrust of the West - The West retained their oil interests in Iran - US said they were stopping spread of communism

  15. Pahlavi Authoritarianism Armed forces: - 5th largest military in world and largest navy in Persian Gulf - SAVAK – Secret Police Government Control - Electoral supervisors rigged Majles elections to give the shah a rubber stamp body - Shari’a supplanted by a European-style of civil code - Secularized Islam further by decreeing a Family Protection Law that conflicted with shar’a law - Controlled the media, National Iranian Oil Co., Banks White Revolution (to forestall a Red Rev) - Land distribution, Literacy drives, etc. Patron-Client Loyalty Pyramids - The Pahlavi’s disbursed benefits (pay-offs) to groups in return for loyalty

  16. Strong Pahlavi State – Shallow Roots • Secularization, centralization, industrialization, and • Social development won favor from urban wealthy • Patrons, but few others • Disregard for the Constitution and stiffling of any • Opposition created strong resentment among the • Clergy, intelligentsia, and urban masses • Pahlavi state hovered over, rather than embedded • Into society Khomeini tapped deeply Into Iranian Society

  17. Resurgence Party Megalomania Let’s get rid of your outdated Islamic calendar. On my new royal calendar, we’re living in the year 2535. In 1975, the Shah announced the Formation of the Resurgence Party. Iran was now a one-party state. Joining Was compulsory…..or else.

  18. Ayatollah Khomeini • Cleric in Iraq as exile • Formulated Shi’a populism/political Islam • - Populism = championing the rights of the • People over the privileged elite. • Used Islam to articulate resentment • Against the Shah and the “Great Satan”

  19. Jurist’s Guardianship Divinely appointed guardians of Both law and the people (Velayat-e faqih) • Khomeini injected new meaning into the Shi’a term jurist’s guardianship • Which argued that the senior clergy should have all encompassing authority • Over society • Only senior clerics had the sole competence to • interpret shari’a • The clergy can best determine what’s best for the people Pssst. You don’t have to follow your ideology to the letter of the law. Alter what you need to in order to be successful. It’s the pragmatic thing to do.

  20. 1979 Revolution New constitution drawn up by Assembly of Experts - 86 elected members - Hezbollahis = “Partisans of God” - virtually all 86 were pro-Kohmeini Drafted a theocratic constitution granting wide authority to Kohmeini and clergy in general Prime Minister Bazargan proposed a French-style Presidential Republic - Khomeini’s response Effect of oil prices and Iran-Iraq War

  21. ShahOil Inc. • Oil enabled the shah’s ostentatious-ness but it also • Funded socio-economic development • - 1960-1977 GDP grew 9.6%/year • - Land Reform & the White Revolution; attempt to win support of peasantry • - Infrastructure improvements • - Health & Education improvements • a. Heath reforms tend to lower infant mortality rates • and promote population explosions • b. What happens when there’s a thousand (young) • people in the streets, signin songs, and carryin signs?

  22. ShahOil Inc. • TRICKLE DOWN REFORM • Benefits stuck at the top of society and no trickle • Land reform yes, but thousands who received no land or enough • to be productive • Mid-70s Iran became one of the most unequal countries in the • world in terms of distribution Created a Dual Society: a. Modern Sector: headed by elites connected to the oil industry b. Traditional Sector: clergy, middle class, and rural masses

  23. Rentier (rahn-tee-eh)

  24. Rentier State An economy that puts All its eggs in one basket

  25. RENTIER STATE A state that obtains a lucrative income by exporting raw materials or leasing out natural resources to foreign companies

  26. Rentier States Can ignore their tax base – with little taxation comes little representation

  27. RENTIER STATE • Soon after the • Revolution…. • - Iran’s GDP dropped ½ • - Population rate doubled • - War with Iraq • - Per capita income declined 45% • - Inflation 20-30% • - Real income dropped 80% • - Unemployment 20% • - Shantytowns developed • Recent boom in oil prices has helped Iranian government embark on social & economic infrastructure development

  28. RENTIER STATE • 2nd largest producer in OPEC • 4th largest oil producer in the world • 85% of Iran’s exports, 40-50% of government • income • Parastatal – National Iranian Oil Company

  29. Iran is short on oil! • Employment in the loss-making state- supported • firms of this welfare state is essential to the • regime’s political survival • Another threat to exports is the growth in • domestic demand. Iranian oil demand is not just • growing, it is exploding, driven by subsidized gasoline • price of 9 cents a liter. This has created a 6% growth • in demand, the highest in the world

  30. First Law of Petropolitics

  31. Guide to Iranian Institutions

  32. Khomeini was named Supreme Leader For life in the Constitution

  33. Khamenei was in Khomeini’s Loyalty pyramid. For his Loyalty He was appointed Head of the Revolutionary Guard and Served as President of Iran

  34. After Khomeini’s death, he Was elevated to Supreme Leader even though he Wasn’t a top-level cleric. Many top-level clerics Didn’t approve of Khomeini & Khamanei’s interpretations Of the Koran

  35. Supreme Leader – Ali Khamenei (1989-present) • Mediator b/w branches • Of government • “determine the interests • Of Islam” • “supervise the • Implementation of policy” • “set political guidelines” • Eliminate candidates • And dismiss the president • Commander in Chief • Nominate and remove • Judges • Nominates 6 clerics to • Guardian Council Titles - “most just, pious, informed, Brave, and enterprising” of The grand ayatollahs - Leader of the Revolution - Founder of the Islamic Republic - Imam of the whole community Serves for life unless the Assembly Of Religious Experts finds him “mentally incapable” Fills many government posts giving Him vast patronage power

  36. President

  37. Bureaucracy • Huge (like in most authoritarian • States) • - Ministry of Culture and Islamic • Guidance • - Intelligence • - clergy dominate • - Many are technocrats but • religious credentials are more • important

  38. Foundation of the Oppressed And Disabled • Charitable bonyad, or foundation • 2nd largest commercial enterprise in Iran behind state-owned • National Iranian Oil • 200,000 employees, it owns and operates 350 subsidiary and affiliate • companies and numerous industries including agriculture, industry, • transportation, and tourism • Operates tax-free • Supposedly autonomous, but directors are clerics appointed by • Supreme Leader • Run businesses and use $ for welfare services

  39. Commander In Chief Military Regular army protects the borders from external enemies Revolutionary Guard Protects Iran from internal enemies Chaplains To oversee officers

  40. Expediency Council • To break deadlock b/w Majles and Guardian Council Khomeini created • The Expediency Council to resolve conflicts b/w Majles and Guardian Council • - Dominated by clerics • - Leader names its members and determines their tenure • - Meetings now secret • - Can create new laws • Khomeini introduced into Shi’ism the Sunni concept of maslahat • - Truly Islamic state could safeguard public interest by suspending important • religious rulings Membership: President, Chief Judge, Speaker of the Majles, top cabinet members, top generals, jurists from Guardian Council, Directors of State-controlled TV, radio, and newspapers, heads of the bonyads

  41. Religion dictates We go This way This way is Best for Iran Khomeini borrowed the pragmatic concept of Maslahatfrom Sunni Islam. An Islamic state could safeguard public interest By suspending important religious rulings and obligations.

  42. Have a baby and the government pay you $950 and put $95 per year into your child’s bank account until he/she turns 18. After the Revolution, government family Planning efforts were banned (an ungodly Western import). When Iran’s population boomed It was pragmatically reinstated.

  43. Elections 2005 Presidential Election Candidates 1st Round % 2nd round % Akbar HashemiRafsaniani 6,159,453 21.01 10,046,701 35.9 Mahmoud Ahmadineiad 5,710,354 19.48 17,284,782 61.6 Mehdi Karroubi 5,086,316 17.28 - - Mohammad BagherGhalibaf 4,075,189 13.90 - - MostafaMoeen 4,054,304 13.83 - - Ali Larijani 1,740,163 5.94 - - Mohsen Mehralizadeh 1,289,323 4.40 - - Blank or invalid votes 1,221,940 4.17 663,770 2.37 Total (turnout 62.6% and 59.6%)

  44. 2009 Presidential Election Interior Ministry issues Licenses to political parties Are these parties or factions?

  45. Political Parties • There are many factions and they tend to form • Coalitions for the purpose of elections. • - A faction of Ahmadinejad supporters called the “Sweet • Scent of Service” were part of a larger coalition called • the United Principalists Front • The names of the coalitions change from election to election • Party ID is much less important than if you are considered a • reformer or conservative

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