Iran Lecture

To Discuss – French elections/Segolene Royal

I died from minerality and became vegetable;

And From vegetativeness I died and became animal.

I died from animality and became man.

Then why fear disappearance through death?

Next time I shall die

Bringing forth wings and feathers like angels;

After that, soaring higher than angels -

What you cannot imagine,

I shall be that.

- Rumi,

Iran Chapter

First – Iran vs. Persia

Persia – generally considered the Western name for Iran, most Iranians reject it

Occasionally, however, it may refer to Iran’s pre-Islamic past (Zoroastrianism)

Those of Persian ancestry only make up 50% of Iran’s population

Sunni vs. Shia

(ask, draw diagram)

Sunni Shia

Dominant sect in Islam Minority sect in Islam

Caliph should be prominent member of Caliph should be from Muhammad’s

Community family (Ali)

Clergy is not established Clergy is established

Theological training not as important Theological training very important

Shiias often confused with violence/militarism/fundamentalism – unfair distinction

Iran History

Safavid Era: 1501-1736

Responsible for uniting Iran

Imposing the Shia belief system throughout the country – conversion was mandatory

(The Ottoman Empire was attempting to consolidate all land in the Middle East and beyond, and the Safavids saved present-day Iran from Ottoman control

Began the system of Shahs – all powerful rulers

Economy flourished as part of the SILK ROAD between Europe, Middle East, India, and Central Asia

High period of culture and literature – Iranians have a rich literary past

The Fall of the Safavids – had always had to fight the Ottomans and Uzbeks

Now – needed to stave off a growing Russia (then called Muscovy), and the Mughal Dynasty of India

Also – the decline of the Silk Road led to Iran’s economic decline (no longer a major hub of commerce, it suffered)

Continuous raids on its borders – finally, the last Safavid Shah, Ismail III, ended in 1760 when Karim Khan, a Qajar, overtook the office

Qajar Dynasty: 1781-1925

Came after a series of attempted power-grabs

Qajars: came from the area now known as Azerbaijan (then a part of Persia)

Reunified Iran (again) as it had splintered in recent years

Eliminated all enemies, and also brought Georgia and the Caucasus under Iranian control

Founded his capital in Tehran

In 1813 – went to war with Russia (both were fighting for control of the Caucasus), and Iran suffered a great defeat

Russia re-took the Caucasus and the area of Armenia and Azerbaijan

Nasser-e-Din Shah

Began the modernization of Iran

Implemented Western math, science, culture throughout the country

Tried to play the UK and Russia off of each other to preserve Iran – didn’t really work

They played “The Great Game” for control over Central Asia and beyond

Britain took over Afghanistan, Russia took over Uzbekistan/Turkmenistan, Iran surrounded by enemies

Gradually, Qajar Shahs were perceived to be in the pockets of foreign interests, as foreign countries paid for expensive vacations

Also – signed over Iran’s oil fields (its main source of wealth) to the British in 1901 for a period of 60 years)

Iranians felt the Shahs were out of touch with the people, and also were acting at the behest of other countries’ interests

Many uprisings in early 20^th century, culminating in the

Constitutional Revolution (1905-1911)

Iranians grew tired of feudalistic system of Shahs and nobility

Tired of being used as a pawn between colonial powers (England, France, Russia) in the Great Game – had made Iran very weak and ineffectual

As Nasser-e-Din tried to rule the country, he found he couldn’t because of foreign interests – finally, signed over more and more control of the Iranian economy

Accomplishments:

· Created a parliament (The Majlis)

· Constitutional monarchy

· Washed away the old order, brought in the new

· Brought Reza Shah Pahlavi to the throne

Reza Shah Pahlavi

Controlled Persia from 1925-1935

Controlled Iran from 1935-1941

Coup overthrowing the Qajars took place in 1921 – but Majlis didn’t make it official until 1925

Tried to westernize Iran further – constructured roads, railways, sent many students to Europe

Attempted to fully industrialize the nation

But very dictatorial, very repressive of religion (his was a secular regime)

Forbade the chador, the burqha, and the veil – wanted everyone to dress in a Western style

Became enormously wealthy

Reza Shah abdicated in 1941 (pressured by UK/Russia, afraid he would ally with the Nazis)

Mohammad Reza Shah took the throne

Mohammad Reza Shah

Learned the lesson from his father’s abdication – support the west

Allowed the Western powers to control Iranian politics

1951 – election of the popular Mohammad Mossadegh, became PM of Iran

He and his party voted to NATIONALIZE the oil industry

Meaning – Iran re-seized control of the oil industry, foreign powers would have to pay Iran directly

Britain fumed – put an embargo on Iranian oil, wanted to oust Mossadegh, but Truman wanted no part of it

1953 – Ike comes into power, persuaded that Mossadegh is allied with Iran’s Tudeh Communist Party (remember, Cold War)

Then – upheaval. Mo tried to get Shah to leave the country, he initially refused then fled to Rome – when pro-Shah tanks descended on Tehran. 300 dead. Military intervened, Mo surrenders, is arrested, tried for treason, gets 3 years in prison.

MI5 and CIA had their hands in this, and Iranians would then blame the west for deposing their popularly elected leader and financing/supporting an unwanted Shah.

Reza Shah’s Regime is noted for:

· White Revolution – modernization, women’s suffrage, land reform, economic success

· Severe oppression – the SAVAK – surveillance, assassination of opposition leaders, intimidation, torture

· Excessive support of Western states – perceived as ignoring the needs of the Iranians to court the French, the English, the Americans, etc

· Equally hostile to Islam – replaced Islamic calendar with Pahlavi calendar, continued restrictions on chador/veil

· Many perceived it as a time of absolute decadence

Set the stage for the ISLAMIC REVOLUTION

Note: Many who supported this revolution did not want a strict Islamic state – they were fighting for freedom from oppression and an elected government. Many have since become disillusioned with the revolution.

Khomeini – a religious scholar who became politically active during the White Revolution – railed against the westernization policies of the Shah, felt it was destroying traditional Iran, denounced both the Shah and the US, and was exiled (spent many years in Najaf, then Paris

Advocated a very strict application of Shari’a (Islamic) law , also wanted to “cleanse” Iran of all Western influence

Declared a provisional govt in February 1979 – March 1979 – 98% of all Iranians voted for a new Islamic republic

Under Khomeini:

- following the Islamic law was compulsory (dress code for both men - no shorts – and women – no hair)

- Islamic Republican Guards – forcefully implemented these laws

- Executed many of the families who had benefited under the Pahlavi regime

- Curbed freedom of speech and the press

- Legal system in turmoil, many women judges are demoted or pushed out

- Iran-Iraq War (1980-88), very costly, very deadly (killed 500,000), Iran and Iraq fighting for power in the Middle East – allowed Khomeini to really crack down on Iran, invoking “war measures”

Structure of Iranian Government:

Supreme Leader

Originally, the Ayatollah Khomeini – now it’s Khameini, supposedly hand-picked by Khomeini

Embodies the ideals of the revolution

Oversees all major political appointments (Guardian Council, judiciary, confirms pres election), holds most of the power in the system

At times, can be real friction between President and Supreme Leader

Guardian Council

Acts as an upper house of parliament that can veto the Majlis’ legislation

Has usually blocked reforms

Officially – it is supposed to protect the constitution and Islamic values

(Composed of six Ayatollahs, six lawyers)

Monitors all elections, and can bar candidates – for instance, the council banned all but six of more than 1,000 hopefuls in the 2005 elections.

Expediency Council

Advises leader, and can also decide disputes between parliament and Guardian Council (usually sides with GC). All members are appointed by Supreme Leader

Head of Judiciary

Defines legal policy, makes sure Islamic law is enforced

Lately, has helped to shut down reforms, and imprison journalists

ELECTED OFFICIALS –

President

Elected every 4 years

2^nd highest executive role – but really, the Supreme Leader ultimately controls everything

Parliament/Majlis

290 members

Elected every 4 years

Introduces/passes laws

Assembly of Experts

Elected every 8 years

86 members

Only clerics are allowed to run

Decide who the next Supreme Leader is, and makes sure the current one is fit to perform

In reality – very little power is held by the elected officials. It is all in the hands of the Supreme Leader, the Guardian Council, and the Expediency Council

Next phase – the Rafsanjani Years

Khomeini died in 1989, replaced by Khameini (even more conservative)

Rafsanjani elected President – after Iran/Iraq war, needed to rebuild the economy. The thrust of his presidency was devoted to privatizing major industries and stimulating economic growth. He also encouraged women to join the work force, a change from Khomeini’s policies

Third Phase – the election of Mohammad Khatami

The world expected a real revolution after Khatami was elected with 70% of the vote in 1997. He was not austere, he actually talked to people (kissing babies, etc), and people responded to that.

He was also a noted reformer who fought against censorship, the closing of newspapers, and the sidelining of women

However – his inability to enact real reform shows what a stranglehold the Supreme Leader/Guardian Council has on the country

- they closed supporting newspapers

- they jailed members of parliament who agreed with reforms

Khatami advocated gradual change

His accomplishments:

Appointed a female to the Cabinet

Eased religious restrictions on lifestyle

Made it easier for individuals to organize

Tried to stop censorship

Has worked to improve relationship with US/EU – unlike the current president

Open protests

Student Riots of 1999 – students were among the biggest supporters of Khatami when he first came into office. However, they grew frustrated by his inability to pass real reforms, and his willingness to bend to the ruling structure

July 1999 – reformist newspaper Salam is closed, students rally

University of Tehran dorms – became the center of the battle between students and militant groups deployed by the government (sent in by the Supreme Leader, not the President)

Spread to all major Iranian cities – Tabriz, Mashad, Shiraz, and Isfahan

Quashed by the police on July 11 – but represented the frustration with the Khatami regime

(discuss picture)

Some quotations from Khatami, at the end of his presidency

“If I retreated, I retreated against the system I believed in. I considered it necessary to save the ruling establishment.”

“Fortunately my tenure [as President] is coming to an end.”

"I have claims against some reformers who ... limited all demands of the people to certain political demands, provoking rigid hard-liners," said Khatami. "(I) have claims against rigid evil thinkers who failed to see people's demands for reform and instead of respecting (the) people's vote (they) began resisting them."

"The only way to save the country is to establish democracy," said Khatami. "The way toward democracy is through and within the Islamic Republic."

The election of Ahmadinejad

Former engineer, and mayor of Tehran

He is not a moderate

Some say he was a party to the Iran hostage crisis in 1979

Has rolled back certain reforms put in place under Khatami – has forbidden western music/television within the country

But his main concern has been to reassert Iran’s power within international politics, pushing for the right for nuclear arms and an even negotiating position with the EU and the US

Many saw the election of Ahmadinejad as a reaction against the West, who was clearly hoping for a more moderate candidate

Iranians are a very proud people and will not be bullied into deciding to please others

With Ahmadeinejad, very unlikely that structure of Islamic Republic will be challenged

Other important people

Shirin Ebadi

First female judge in Iran, serving Tehran

1979 – was forced to resign her post (women were kicked out of judiciary)

Established independent law practice – fights for minority rights, women’s rights, freedom of the press

Awarded the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize

Has been imprisoned, has been threatened with death

But continues to fight on