CPO2001 Iran Discussion Notes PDF

Preview

Summary

Notes from Iran discussion for CPO2001 taught by Amie Kreppel....

Description

Friday, October 12, 2018

CPO Iran Discussion - What makes Iran an interesting case?! • Not traditionally a muslim country in what they speak or their ethnicity! • Theocracy! • Dealing with resource trap right now! • Trying to become a nuclear power! • Blends democratic and religious institutions! • The Iranian Revolution ! - State Development! • One of longest continuous civilizations in world! • Began as Persian empire! • Suni v shia islam in power! • Constitutional revolution introduced democratic institution to Iran, but didn’t last long bc Britain and Russian took Persian autonomy away!

- Regime structure! • Unitary! • Islamic revolutionary and republican constitution! - All laws and policies have to abide by the Quran! - Includes anti-American sentiments! • Semi-presidential or dual executive system ! - Head of state: supreme leader! - Head of government: president- basically puppet of supreme leader! Constitution did not say which is more powerful, but bc supreme leader wrote the • constitution they were able to informally take powers!

- Assembly of Experts! • One of the republican institutions of Iran, has 88 members, all males and islamic scholars, are directly elected by the people!

- Legislature! • Unicameral legislature, 290 members, some seats set aside for religious minorities (not very many though), relatively weak institution!

- Does Iran have universal suffrage?! • Competition is restricted because some positions are only open to males! - Guardian Council?! • Institution that reviews all legislation to ensure it is compatible with Islamic law! • Similar to upper house because it can modify and send back for revision to the lower house!

• Six lawyers chosen by chief justice and six clerics appointed by supreme leader!

- Expediency Council?! • Mediating body between guardian cousin and the majis! • When legislation is rejected by GC but legislature is adamant they review both sides and make a decision, 39 members appointed by supreme leader!

- Judiciary! • Chief justice appointed by supreme leader! • Supreme Court highest court of appeals in Iran! • High involvement or clerics! - Electoral System! • Majilis uses mixed system of SMD and MMD based on a “soft” majority threshold ! • Works essentially like a plurality system if leading candidate fails to secure 25% of vote! - Revolutionary Guard! • Personal militia of supreme leader at first! • As time passed became more and more involved in other issues! 1

Friday, October 12, 2018

• Involved in certain economic sectors and semi responsible for securing sovereignty of Iran! • Helped second supreme leader maintain control of the country!

- Party System! • No part system since 1987! • Islamic Republican Party and Liberation movement before that! - Civil Society! • Strength fluctuates through time! • Flattened following new regime! • Last few years young population of Iran has been fighting to improve! - Political Economy! • Top down approach to modernization, were merchatalist! • Labor force is dominate by service force! • Industrial sector produces the most wealth! - Resource curse! -

2...