Introduction to Iran / Introduction to Iran / Evolution of the Iranian Evolution of the Iranian

StateState

Country Bio: IranCountry Bio: Iran Population: Population:

– 66.3 million 66.3 million Territory:Territory:

– 636,296 sq. miles636,296 sq. miles Year of IndependenceYear of Independence: :

– 550 B.C.550 B.C. Year of Current Year of Current

ConstitutionConstitution: : – 1979, amended in 19891979, amended in 1989

Head of State:Head of State: – Ali Khamenei (Supreme Ali Khamenei (Supreme

Leader)Leader) Head of Government:Head of Government:

– Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (President)(President)

Language:Language: – Persian, regional languagesPersian, regional languages

Religion:Religion:– Twelver Shiite Muslim 90%, Twelver Shiite Muslim 90%,

Sunni Muslim 9%, non-Sunni Muslim 9%, non-Muslims less than 1%Muslims less than 1%

Historical Turning PointsHistorical Turning Points 559 BCE --- Empire of Cyrus the Great559 BCE --- Empire of Cyrus the Great 332 BCE --- Conquest by Alexander the 332 BCE --- Conquest by Alexander the

Great Great and the Greeks and the Greeks 250 BCE --- Parthian Dynasty250 BCE --- Parthian Dynasty 226 CE --- Sassanian Dynasty226 CE --- Sassanian Dynasty 638 --- Arab/Islamic Conquest638 --- Arab/Islamic Conquest 1219 --- Mongol Invasion1219 --- Mongol Invasion 1501 --- Safavid Dynasty establishes 1501 --- Safavid Dynasty establishes

Shiism Shiism as state religion as state religion 1796 --- Qajar Dynasty1796 --- Qajar Dynasty

Political Turning Points IPolitical Turning Points I 1905 --- Constitutional Revolution1905 --- Constitutional Revolution 1908 --- Oil discovered1908 --- Oil discovered 1925 --- Reza Khan overthrows Qajar Dynasty1925 --- Reza Khan overthrows Qajar Dynasty 1941 --- Muhammad Reza Shah Pahlavi 1941 --- Muhammad Reza Shah Pahlavi

becomes shahbecomes shah 1950’s --- Mossadeq nationalizes oil industry; 1950’s --- Mossadeq nationalizes oil industry;

US coup d'état restores shahUS coup d'état restores shah 1960s-70s --- White Revolution/Khomeini in 1960s-70s --- White Revolution/Khomeini in

exileexile 1979 --- Islamic Revolution1979 --- Islamic Revolution

Political Turning Points IIPolitical Turning Points II 1980-1988 --- War with Iraq1980-1988 --- War with Iraq 1989 --- Khomeini dies; Khamenei succeeds him as 1989 --- Khomeini dies; Khamenei succeeds him as

Supreme Leader after a power struggle in the Supreme Leader after a power struggle in the Assembly of Religious ExpertsAssembly of Religious Experts

1997 --- Reformist Khatami elected president1997 --- Reformist Khatami elected president 2000 --- Reformist candidates win control of the 2000 --- Reformist candidates win control of the

MajlisMajlis 2004 --- Conservatives regain control of Majlis, 2004 --- Conservatives regain control of Majlis,

after 2,500 reformist candidates disqualifiedafter 2,500 reformist candidates disqualified 2005 --- Conservative Ahmadinejad elected 2005 --- Conservative Ahmadinejad elected

presidentpresident 2009 --- Ahmadinejad reelected2009 --- Ahmadinejad reelected

Important facts:Important facts: UnitaryUnitary Dual executive Dual executive Written constitutionWritten constitution Theocratic stateTheocratic state Jurist guardianship—senior clerics Jurist guardianship—senior clerics

have authority over entire have authority over entire communitycommunity

Oil & the Rent-seeking stateOil & the Rent-seeking state Rentier EconomyRentier Economy—govt. revenues —govt. revenues

derived from foreign purchases of a derived from foreign purchases of a resource (oil)resource (oil)

The people become unnecessary to The people become unnecessary to the government the government no need to tax no need to tax– So the government doesn’t have to So the government doesn’t have to

worry about the people’s demandsworry about the people’s demands

Islamic Revolution & the Islamic Revolution & the Republic (1979-present)Republic (1979-present)

Revolution – short, relatively nonviolent Revolution – short, relatively nonviolent upheaval supported by middle class upheaval supported by middle class

CausesCauses– Shah perceived as being totalitarianShah perceived as being totalitarian– Iran too secular, too tied to WestIran too secular, too tied to West– Struggling economyStruggling economy

EffectsEffects– Theocracy establishedTheocracy established– Sharia lawSharia law– Fundamental IslamFundamental Islam

US-Iranian hostage crisis US-Iranian hostage crisis (1979)(1979)

52 Americans 52 Americans held for 444 daysheld for 444 days

Death of KhomeiniDeath of Khomeini Khomeini died in 1989Khomeini died in 1989

Constitution amended Constitution amended to change to change selection criteria for Supreme Leader selection criteria for Supreme Leader (chosen by Assembly of Religious (chosen by Assembly of Religious Experts)Experts)

Soon after death of Khomeini, economic Soon after death of Khomeini, economic development became central concern of development became central concern of Iranian stateIranian state

President KhatamiPresident Khatami 1997-20051997-2005 Reformist leaderReformist leader

– Increased freedom of the pressIncreased freedom of the press– More open civil societyMore open civil society– Better relations with foreign countriesBetter relations with foreign countries– Free market + foreign investmentFree market + foreign investment

2004 – Reformist period ended when 2004 – Reformist period ended when 2,500 candidates for Majlis disqualified 2,500 candidates for Majlis disqualified by Guardian Councilby Guardian Council