Iranian Political Iranian Political CultureCulture

Political CleavagesPolitical Cleavages

ReligionReligion

EthnicityEthnicity

Social ClassSocial Class

Reformers vs. ConservativesReformers vs. Conservatives

ReligionReligion 89% of Iranians are Shi’a Muslims89% of Iranians are Shi’a Muslims 10% are Sunni Muslim10% are Sunni Muslim

– The constitution does not mention Sunnis and their legal The constitution does not mention Sunnis and their legal status is therefore unclearstatus is therefore unclear

1% are a combination of Jews, Christians, 1% are a combination of Jews, Christians, Zoroastrians, and Baha’iZoroastrians, and Baha’i

Constitution recognizes rights of religious Constitution recognizes rights of religious minorities, many religious minorities have left minorities, many religious minorities have left country since Islamic Revolutioncountry since Islamic Revolution

Baha’i considered unholy offshoot of Islam and Baha’i considered unholy offshoot of Islam and they have been persecuted by Shi’ite they have been persecuted by Shi’ite governments.governments.– Baha’i leaders have been executed, imprisoned, Baha’i leaders have been executed, imprisoned,

tortured, their schools closed and property confiscatedtortured, their schools closed and property confiscated

EthnicityEthnicity 51% Persian (speak Farsi)51% Persian (speak Farsi) 24% Azeri24% Azeri

– Live mostly in the northwest close to Azerbaijan, this Live mostly in the northwest close to Azerbaijan, this causes tension with Iranian government worried that causes tension with Iranian government worried that Azeri may want to unite part of Iranian territory with Azeri may want to unite part of Iranian territory with AzerbaijanAzerbaijan

– Azeri do not speak Farsi, but they are mostly Shi’ite, Ali Azeri do not speak Farsi, but they are mostly Shi’ite, Ali Khameini was AzeriKhameini was Azeri

8% Gilaki & Mazandarani8% Gilaki & Mazandarani 7% Kurds7% Kurds

– Predominantly SunniPredominantly Sunni 3% Arabic3% Arabic

– Predominantly SunniPredominantly Sunni

Social ClassSocial Class Peasantry and middle class support Peasantry and middle class support

Islamic regimeIslamic regime– Benefited from government social programs.Benefited from government social programs.

Provided electricity & paved roadsProvided electricity & paved roads

– Strong support for AhmadinejadStrong support for Ahmadinejad Middle & Upper-middle class largely Middle & Upper-middle class largely

secularizedsecularized– Critical of clericsCritical of clerics– Have not fared well economically under the Have not fared well economically under the

RepublicRepublic– Supportive of reformist candidatesSupportive of reformist candidates

Political CulturePolitical Culture

Authoritarianism (not totalitarianism) Authoritarianism (not totalitarianism) – – leaders claim to be all powerful, but do not leaders claim to be all powerful, but do not interfere with interfere with everyevery aspect of the citizens lives aspect of the citizens lives

Union of political & religious authorityUnion of political & religious authority Shi’ism & Sharia Shi’ism & Sharia – key components of – key components of

everyday lifeeveryday life Geographic Limitations – limited arable land Geographic Limitations – limited arable land

forced expansion through military conquest, forced expansion through military conquest, population of Iran unevenly distributed in cities population of Iran unevenly distributed in cities and northwestern part of countryand northwestern part of country

Influence of Ancient Persia and colonial pastInfluence of Ancient Persia and colonial past

Legitimacy of Modern StateLegitimacy of Modern State

Revolution of 1979Revolution of 1979– Charismatic legitimacy of Ayatollah Charismatic legitimacy of Ayatollah

KhomeiniKhomeini– Legitimacy attached to principles of Legitimacy attached to principles of

Shi’ismShi’ism– Constitution of 1979 and amendments Constitution of 1979 and amendments

of 1989of 1989

Women & the Political Women & the Political SystemSystem

When shari’a law is interpreted narrowly When shari’a law is interpreted narrowly women are considered wards of their male women are considered wards of their male relativesrelatives

““Equality-with-difference” policy – instituted by Equality-with-difference” policy – instituted by the Islamic Republic slants law favorably the Islamic Republic slants law favorably towards men on issues such as divorce and towards men on issues such as divorce and custodycustody– Women must wear scarves and long coats in publicWomen must wear scarves and long coats in public– Women cannot leave country without consent of Women cannot leave country without consent of

male relativesmale relatives– Occasionally women stoned for committing adulteryOccasionally women stoned for committing adultery

Women & the Political Women & the Political System IISystem II

Women allowed to get education in Iran Women allowed to get education in Iran and entrance into some occupationsand entrance into some occupations– Expectations for better jobs and increased Expectations for better jobs and increased

political rights among educated womenpolitical rights among educated women– Half of college students in Iran are womenHalf of college students in Iran are women– Women make up 27% of the labor forceWomen make up 27% of the labor force

Women are still largely underrepresented Women are still largely underrepresented in every area of government in Iranin every area of government in Iran