Assignment+2

=The Sources Of Sovereignty, Legitimacy, and Power!=

From [] - A very good overview of Iranian government (TM)

Historical Legitimacy: Early Iran (SA)

 * ====Early Legitimacy in Iran was based primarily in the state’s religion, Shiism.====
 * ====Shiites believe that the true heirs (known as Imams) of Islam are descendants of Ali, Muhammad’s son-in-law.====
 * ====When Ismail unified Iran in 1509 and distinguished it as a Shiite state, he claimed its leaders would be acting Imams until the hidden Imam returned. Until the 20th century, this was the basis of Iranian shahs’ legitimacy.====

Historical Legitimacy: The 20th Century (SA)

 * ====In the first half of the 20th century, rulers came to power that supported more secular ideals. These leaders found legitimacy primarily in the strength of their central government and in the throne they inherited.====
 * ====In the middle of the century, traces of democracy began emerging. Elected leaders derived their legitimacy from the way they were elected.====
 * ====In 1953, the U.S., growing increasingly concerned with the anti-foreign prime minister, led a coup in Iran, installing a puppet government.====
 * ====The U.S.'s government had little legitimacy. Mohammed Rezah Shah's secret police and secular ideals were extremely unpopular. As a result, the 1979 Iranian Revolution installed a new, more religious government. For information on that, see [|here].====



Sources Of Legitimacy in Contemporary Iran: Religion, Constitution

 * ====Constitution embodies Islamic (specifically, Shiist) principles as well as **sharia (Islamic law)**====
 * ====Read the Constitution of 1979 [|here]! (TM)====
 * ====="The Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran sets forth the cultural, social, political and economic institutions of the people of Iran, based on Islamic principles and rules, and reflecting the fundamental desires of the Islamic people. The essence of the great Islamic Revolution of Iran, and the course of the struggle of the Muslim people from its beginning to its victory, as manifested by the categorical and striking slogans used by all classes of the people, get their special character from this fundamental desire. Now our nation, with the whole of its being is in the vanguard of this great victory, and strives for the attainment of that desire. "=====
 * ====Mixture of democracy and theocracy... a Islamic Republic results====
 * ====Clergy (and rule) itself has legitimate power====
 * =====**Velayat-e-faqih (Jurist's guardianship):** Originally gave senior clergy broad authority over widows, orphans, other "unfortunate people." Ayatollah Rullah Khomeini reinterpreted term to give clergy authority over entire Shia community (TM)=====
 * ======From the Constitution: "Islamic Government is designed on a basis of "religious guardianship" (VELAYAT FAQIYE) as put forward by Imam Khomeini at the height of the intense emotion and strangulation (felt) under the despotic regime. This created a specific motivation and new field of advance for the Muslim people; and opened up the true path for the religious fight of Islam, pressing forward the struggle of the committed Muslim combatants, inside and outside the country."======

Legitimacy From A Current Event: (See [|here]). (TM)

 * Revolution Day is coming in Iran
 * Iranian government under Ayatollah Ali Khamenei wants to use speeches of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini to gain support for their regime
 * Khomeini's grandson, however, supports Green Movement, which opposes the current government. Mr. Khomeini feels that his grandfather would not have supported current Iranian government
 * "The attacks on the Ayatollah’s young descendant by allies of the supreme leader show the rivalry between two schools, which might be termed “Khomeinism” and “Khameneism”.Supporters of the former insist that Khomeini believed the regime’s legitimacy is derived from the ballot box. Meanwhile, allies of Ayatollah Khamenei would argue that God confers legitimacy on the government and indirectly appoints the supreme leader."
 * Iran's government is a careful balance of theocracy and democracy... This dispute demonstrates the delicate balance between the two. Does legitimacy ultimately come from the government's religious elements or its democratic side? The resolution of the dispute may determine if Iran is a theocracy with democratic root, or a democracy with theocratic roots.
 * Also, the invoking of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini by both sides of the issues makes Khomeini himself a source of legitimacy.

=Political Culture= Authoritarianism but not Totalitarianism (CL) · Central leaders have not, historically been as powerful as they have claimed. In reality local officials are more commonly looked to for direction o Decentralization began with the Safavid Empire in 1501 – Safavids were crucial in making Shia Islam the major religion of the country; however, their capital was in Isfahan. Very far inland, Isfahan did not have access to the world sea trade that other parts of the country did and could not afford a standing army or extensive bureaucracy. Many of the civilians learned to follow the orders of local rulers, mostly Persians. The nature of Iran's initial decentralized autocracy continued into the future. o In 1736, [|Nader Shah] deposed the last member of the [|Safavid dynasty] and proclaimed himself King of Iran; during this Afsharid dynasty a civil war because of regional high taxes took place over succession issues, and the empire collapsed in the 1750s. o In the following decades both the Zand and Qajar dynasties occurred. In both eras the weak power of a new leader caused unrest and relatively weak central power. o In the 20th century, Iran had several changes of power, all led by different factions within the country. o In 1953 the United States government, with the help of Britain, deliberately overthrew the Iranian government. o Today in Iran, there are many differing groups, mostly because of religion. They are controlled authoritatively through the use of a Supreme Leader, President, Council of Guardians, Majlis, Assembly of Experts and Council of Ministers. · [|Article] : This article is a NYT story of an attempted opposition street protest in Iran. The protest was relatively small and occured after the recent controversial presidential election. This demonstrates the still lack of central authority within the state of Iran. It also showed how political leaders are not individually very powerful in Iran as the leaders are hard to find or reach. Government officials also had to carry out the oppression of the protest; Iran does not have a strong enough central authority to prevent the protest from occurring.

Union of political and religious authority (CL) · Today Iran is a theocracy, the Assembly of Religious Experts even created the constitution. · Beginning with the [|Safavid Dynasty], the major religion of Iran was established as Shia Islamic. This was through a decree by Ismail I who ordered conversion of all Sunni Islams. The Sunni clergy were killed or exiled. · The Shia Islamic culture continued until 1794 when the Qajar dynasty was formed. Until 1979 the influence of the Qajars was mainly political as the Qajars did not, like the Safavid’s, have claim to any religious dynasty history. The Shia clerical leaders began to take responsibility for religion, and the state gradually became less theocratic. · In the 1979 Islamic revolution a theocracy was once again established when the people rebelled against the Shah who was perceived, by the vastly Shia population, as westernizing the state too quickly. · The predominance of Shia Islam, as shown on this map, made it relatively easy for Iran to reestablish a theocracy; the government’s choice of religion is already integrated into the lives of the people. · · [|Article]: This NY Times Op-Ed article explains the turmoil of Iran in the decades since the Revolution. The author maintains that the United States encouraged the events which caused the country to deteriorate, and that the only hope for the future of Iran are the young democratic revolutionaries. This article shows the effect that having a theocratic state has had on Iranian politics and how hard the political structure of the country will be to change.

Shiism and Sharia as central components (CL) · The followers of Shia Islam are also known as **Shiites**, and ever since the Safavid Empire they have composed the majority of Iranian/Persian citizens. · Sharia is described as the way a Muslim should live. It is derived from the Qur’an and the life of Mohammad. It is followed in both Shia and Sunni religion. · In Iran, if a law is deemed incompatible with either the constitution or the [|Sharia], it is referred back to Parliament. In this way, Sharia plays a central component in the politics of Iran. · The Guardian Council, shown here, is also composed of twelve members, a tribute to the Twelver aspect of the Shiia faith, the belief in twelve divinely appointed leaders. [|Article]: In this NYT article, five protesters in Iran have been charged with "warring on God", a crime punishable by death. This article goes on to explain the recent theocratic "crackdown" in Iran. most probably through Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the regilious leader. The protestors, accused of following the path of Satan, show how religion is still a very important part of Iran culture and how it is still regarded as a significant issue by both the people and the government.

Escape from European Colonization (MJF)
A tile from 19th century Iran While the rest of the area was being colonized by Europe at this time, Iran remained independent. Anglo-Iranian Oil
 * Information
 * Never officially colonized by Europeans during the 18th and 19th centuries
 * Sill affected by imperialism, just not directly
 * After the second world war, major oil companies had major influence in Iran
 * Europe gained indirect finanical control over countries like Iran during the 19th century when they were unable to pay their accumulated debts
 * Though Iran was able to maintain its independence throughout the 19th century, it was not able to prosper until the value of its oil was discovered (Anglo-Persian Oil Company)
 * Visuals

ARTICLE: Helping or Hurting? Should the West try to help Iran's opposition movement? link: []

Despite avoiding colonization from the west in the 19th century, Iran is still on the minds of Western countries. America especially believes Iran is in desprate need of political change. There is a lot of debate looking into whether the west's desire to bring political change about in Iran is helping or hurting the country. Some believe the US should use its resources to directly attend to the problem, whatever that is. Others believe the West should stay out, as it did in the 19th century, and let Iran develop on its own. Because Iran did avoid Western influence in its earlier history, many members of the country do not recognize Western authority as legitimate.

Geographic Limitations (MJF)
ARTICLE: Water Scarcity Spreading link: []
 * Information
 * Large quantities of land space are not suitable for farming (central desert, mountains); Agricultural basis of the country has never been secure
 * Examples of Deserts:
 * Mountains: Mountains surround most of the land making it nearly impossible to inhabitate or farm. The mountains also serve as separators, cutting communication and dividing the country further.
 * These restrictions forced the Persians to seek more suitable land via conquest and expansion
 * The country lacks rivers
 * Emphasis of trade by land
 * Population of modern day Iran is unevenly distributed (most live in cities or northwest)
 * Visuals
 * Population Density: popluation is concentrated in northern areas; desert areas are less populated
 * Kavir Desert: Deserts make it hard to farm, therefore these areas are not highly populated

Iran is one of the most highly populated countries in the area and it is facing huge water shortages. The few prospering agricultural regions in the country are losing water supplies quickly. Some villages have been evacuated due to water shortages; the people evacuated are called water refugees. Iran relies on its few cash crops for support. The lack of water is not only destroying the people and their villages, but the economy of the country as a whole. The current political situation is not providing a lot of support for the current issue and therefore its legitimacy is declining. Any power that would be able to help with the water problem would see an increase in recognized legitimacy.

ARTICLE: Trouble in a dry land, from the New Agriculturist link: []

Water scarcity (due to low rainfall and poor distribution methods) is hurting the agricultural economy. Soil is overwhelmingly saline. Poor agricultural conditions have led to poor crop yields, human health issues, and poverty. More than just drought, water shortages are affecting the composition of the soil. The very land the people live on is giving out. As mentioned before, because there has been no immediate solution to the problem, authoritarian figures are losing legitimacy. Farming is a large part of Iranian culture. Many villages have individual farms meant just to sustain the people. These farms act as food sources. All of these sources are drying up.

The Influence of Ancient Persia (MJF)
Persian Rugs ARTICLE: A Taste of Persia, and Old Bombay link: []
 * Information
 * The Persian influence is deeply rooted in the country’s culture
 * Even after being invaded by the Arabs, Persian continued to be spoken
 * Distinct architecture, literature, poetry, and art
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A distinct Iranian nationalism was formed as a result
 * Visuals

Even beyond Iran, the influence of Persian culture can be seen (and tasted) all over the region. The article discuesses a typical Iranian cafe (many of which are found throughout countries such as Iran and India). The rules of the cafes are dictated by traditional Persian culture. Traditional culture is still seen as a legitimate source of authority.

ARTICLE: A Master Iranian Musician Plays Cultural Ambassador link: []

Even in modern Iran, the traditional Persian fiddle called the kamancheh is appreciated for its musical, cultural, and diplomatic abilities. The article discusses Kayhan Kalhor, an Iranian kamancheh player and his work with the quartet Brooklyn Rider. One of the songs they worked on together is called “Silent City". The piece commemorates Halabjah, a Kurdish village annihilated by Saddam Hussein. The fiddle represents the influence of Persian culture which can still be felt today. In this specific case, it was able to bring musicians together on an international level. The article quotes Mr. Kalhor, saying "the culture of Persia (which was renamed Iran in 1935) goes back much further. 'When we say Persian we don’t mean today’s Iranian borders.'"

Strong Central Government:
· The Achemenian, or Persian (c. 530 – c. 330 B.C.E.) empire was highly centralized, probably the most centralized government in Iran’s history. In fact, King Darius referred to all citizens as his slaves. · The Majiles (legislative branch) established by the Qajars (1794 – 1925) in 1906 was in chaos fifteen years later. Iran did not respond well to the separation of powers created by the Constitution of 1906. · The Pahlavis (1925-1979) returned Iran to its early centralized days. They controlled the media and the Iranian Oil Company. The Majiles became powerless, and the local government was entirely in the hands of the national government. · Each of 28 provinces (ostans) in Iran is headed by a governor-general selected by the central government. The central government may even choose mayors within these provinces. (Source: [|link])

Religion as a Unifier
· Zoroastrianism provided a “glue” for the Achemenian empire. · Iran’s major religion, Shiism, became the state religion in the 13th century. 90% of Iranians today are Shiite. · The Safavids (1501-1722) claimed to be descendants of the Twelve Imams (descendants of Mohammed’s son-in-law, Ali). · Current president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad represents a return to a conservative theocracy. · The Constitution of 1906 affirmed Shiism as the state religion. · The Pahlavis tried to secularize the state, which was an unpopular decision. This was a major cause of the 1979 revolution. · The 1979 revolution marked a return to early religious principles. · Ehsan Naraghi posed the argument that religion filled a void left by the secular school system. Where an education failed to grant an identity, religion offered an ever-present one. This would be in keeping with the Shiism that has long been ingrained in Iran. (Source: Naraghi, Ehsan. "Religion, secularism and democracy. (Iranian politics) (Iran)." //UNESCO Courier.// (Nov 1992): p38(3). //Student Resource Center - Gold//. Gale. CONESTOGA HIGH SCHOOL. 11 Feb. 2010 [|link] .)



Authoritarianism (not Totalitarianism)
· The authoritarian state has its origins in the Achemenian empire. · Even the secular Pahlavi shahs, who ruled in the 20th century, kept Iran as an authoritarian state. Reza Khan established the Pahlavi dynasty in spite of a democratic opposition. · The Pahlavi shahs, however, were a little totalitarian for Iran, which was one cause of the 1979 revolution. · Since the revolution of 1979, the government has become more totalitarian. The instatement of legalized inquisition and constitutional support for the Qur’an belief that “The believers, men and women, are guardians of one another; they enjoin the good and forbid the evil.” (Source: Kar, Mehrangiz. "The invasion of the private sphere in Iran.(Part III: individual, family, community, and state)." //Social Research.// 70. 3 (Fall 2003): 829(9). //Student Resource Center - Gold//. Gale. CONESTOGA HIGH SCHOOL. 11 Feb. 2010 [|link].



Strong Military
· The Achemenian empire displayed a strong military. · The Cossack Brigade established by the Qajars eventually overthrew them. · The Pahlavis established the 5th largest army in the world at the time. · The Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988) served to unify Iran and rally support for the new government. · On February 11, 2010, President Ahmadinejad stated that Iran is now capable of making weapon-grade nuclear fuels. See full article [|here]. · As she began her Middle East tour, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that the United States sees “that the government in Iran, the supreme leader, the president, the Parliament, is being supplanted and that Iran is moving towards a military dictatorship.” She expressed concerns about Iran’s growing nuclear capacities. See full article [|here]. · In regards to the Iranian nuclear controversy, many Iranians would prefer not to move towards weaponization in return for a lifting of sanctions against Iran. (Source: Barzegar, Kayhan. "The paradox of Iran's nuclear consensus.(Essay)." //World Policy Journal.// 26. 3 (Fall 2009): 21(10). //Student Resource Center - Gold//. Gale. CONESTOGA HIGH SCHOOL. 11 Feb. 2010 [|link].



Inclusion (not Acceptance) of Minorities
· Ethnic minorities: Kurds, Turkmen, Baluchis, Arabs · The Safavids tolerated “People of the Book” – Jews, Christians, Zoroastrians, and Sunni Muslims. · Seats in the Majiles were and are guaranteed to religious minorities – Jews, Christians, and Zoroastrians. These required seats are generally the only ones filled by religious minorities. · In 1994, the __New York Times__ published an article detailing the murder of a Protestant bishop. The article summarized the religious conflicts: “Although senior Iranian clerics maintain that members of religious minorities are free to practice their faith, with each religious group having an elected representative in the Parliament, tensions remain even among Muslims.” (Source: "Bishop's Killing Puts Focus on Persecution in Iran.(Foreign Desk)." //The New York Times.// (Feb 6, 1994): NA. //Student Resource Center - Gold//. Gale. CONESTOGA HIGH SCHOOL. 11 Feb. 2010 [|link] )



Contact with the West
· The Achemenian empire was conquered by the Macedonian Alexander the Great, as was its rival, Greece. · Iran remained independent, but not isolated, during the age of European imperialism. · The Qajars sacrificed land to Russia, sold the right to drill for oil to Britain, and entered into massive debts with European banks. · Britain and the U.S. were largely responsible for propping up the Pahlavi regime during the (unsuccessful) revolution of 1953. · The Ayatollah Khomeini was opposed to Iran’s dependence on the U.S., which resonated with many Iranians. · Mohammed Khatami (1997 – 2005) tried to build up relations between Iran and the U.S. · In 2009, the foreign minister from Iran, Manouchehr Mottaki, denounced the U.S. as a “troublemaker”, saying Obama should end the “hostility and U.S. hegemony”. (Source: "Europe welcomes, Iran lectures Obama." //UPI NewsTrack.// (Jan 20, 2009): NA. //Student Resource Center - Gold//. Gale. CONESTOGA HIGH SCHOOL. 11 Feb. 2010 [|link])