According to the constitution, the islamic republic of iran is a republic with separation of powers among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. Government of the islamic republic of iran wikipedia. Clerics form the broadest social network in iran, exerting their influence from the most remote village to the biggest cities. The politics of nationalism in modern iran this sophisticated and challenging book by the distinguished historian ali m. The political system which was instituted in iran after the 1979 revolution has been a matter of.
Pdf suspended equilibrium in irans political system. The islamic republic constitution of december 1979 and its 1989 change identifies the islamic republic of irans political, economic, and social order, proclaiming that the countrys official religion is shia islam. The constitution notes that the islamic revolution reflects an attempt, also made by other islamic and democratic movements, to open the way for the. Chehabi skip to main content accessibility help we use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Suzanne maloney read and synthesized the political economy literature on iran with stunning diligence. It does so by considering the broader developments in national ideologies that took place following the emergence of the european. In establishing, on the basis of ideological interpretation, political institutions and. Notwithstanding these realities, irans political system is. Iran became an islamic republic in 1979, when the monarchy was overthrown and clerics assumed political control. This paper provides an introduction to the islamic republic of iran, its politics, economics, foreign and defence policies, and its nuclear programme. Iran islamic republic ofs constitution of 1979 with.
Additionally, a comparison between the womens political participation in iran with other countries, as well as the analysis of the most crucial facilitating and hindering factors affecting the iranian womens political activists are the two other issues addressed in this paper. The iranian political system attempts to maintain a government that embodies the centrality of a monarchy, the jurisprudence of a democracy, and the personal freedoms of a republic. Despite the theocratic basis of its state, iran is one of the more dem ocratic countries in the middle east. Whos who in irans political system top 10 players in iran. The iranian revolution, past, present and future iran chamber. Islamic republic of iran developed a very lively political system after khomeinis death in 1989 presidential, parliamentary, and local elections offer iranian citizens a choice of candidates advocating differing policies. It seeks to demystify the clerical regime, provide an insight into the theocracys goals and ambitions and its factions, debates, rivalries and policies. An overview of iranian legal system and research globalex. The leader, however, is equal to the rest of the people before the law. Inside iran the structure of power in iran terror and. Heres a whos who of the players who may determine iran s future in the unfolding drama.
First off, iran s government is probably the most misunderstood in the world. Heres a whos who of the players who may determine irans future in the unfolding drama. The ambiguities of irans political system stem to a not inconsiderable extent from the constitution of 1979. The constitution of the islamic republic of iran is a declaration of the social, cultural, political, and economic foundations of the iranian society based on islamic principles and norms that re. The political system of saudi arabia mentioned in the prelude. Political system of iran june 6, 2017 in intl affairs, june 2017 leave a comment the islamic republic of iran is a constitutional, theocratic republic in which shia muslim clergy and political leaders vetted by the clergy dominate the key power structures. There is a shared commitment amongst the majority of iranians to work patiently and rather less erratically towards a political system that appreciates the diversity and complexity of iranian society which encompasses a wide spectrum of opinions and values. First off, irans government is probably the most misunderstood in the world. Tawheed oneness means that one god alone is the creator. Irans 1979 constitution attempted to bring together these two notions of republican governance and religious authority. Oct 05, 2010 clerics form the broadest social network in iran, exerting their influence from the most remote village to the biggest cities. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Jan 14, 2020 supreme leader ayatollah ali khamenei. The conservatives have managed to sideline both the rightwing populists backed by former president ahmadinejad and reformists calling for a more open political system.
Jun 20, 2009 the conflict in iran thus far has been not so much a wholesale revolt of the masses against the system as a complex struggle for power within iran s ruling establishment and a battle over the countrys direction. The conflict in iran thus far has been not so much a wholesale revolt of the masses against the system as a complex struggle for power within irans ruling establishment and a battle over the countrys direction. Oct 05, 2010 irans 1979 constitution attempted to bring together these two notions of republican governance and religious authority. Today, the system is dominated by hardline conservative groups backed by the supreme leader ayatollah ali khamenei, the most powerful politician in iran. So while most opposition groups participated in the 1979 revolution, the clergy established hegemony over irans new political system after the shahs ouster. Iran is a republic in which the president, parliament majles and judicial system share powers. Irans political system remains a paradox in the middle east. The objectives that the islamic system of governance aims to realize need expounding upon, especially given the fact that these objectives cannot be separated from the objectives that the prophets sought to achieve. The supreme leader is the ultimate spiritual and political authority who supervises other state institutions, making khamenei the most powerful politician in iran in power since 1989. Ansari explores the idea of nationalism in the creation of modern iran. Political and power structures in iran irans political system is an islamic democracy, a new form of democracy that combines islam and democracy.
This study then analyzes how irans political and power structures are related to main features of political powers and economic policies, drawing some policy implications for korea. The highest office in the iranian system is reserved for clerics. Additionally, a comparison between the womens political participation in iran with other countries, as well as the analysis of the most crucial facilitating and hindering factors affecting the iranian womens political activists are the two other issues addressed in this. Iran, a mountainous, arid, and ethnically diverse country of southwestern asia. Candidate in private and islamic law at the university of tehran, tehran, iran. Mar 21, 2016 the historical political landscape in iran the islamic republic stands unique as a political system in this world, with a complex history of democratic and islamist features. To earn the point, the response must accurately compare political competition in mexico to political competition in iran. Iran became an islamic republic in 1979, when the monarchy was overthrown and clerics assumed political control under supreme leader ayatollah khomeini. While parliament majles and the president are directly elected, power in iran is largely consolidated within a few governing bodies. But in a political system with myriad and overlapping centers of power, capturing the presidency and the parliament may not suffice. The historical political landscape in iran the islamic republic stands unique as a political system in this world, with a complex history of democratic and islamist features. Religion and politics in iran council on foreign relations. The iranian revolution past, present and future brought the safavids into direct conflict with the ottoman empire and led to two centuries of intermittent warfare between those two powerful states.
The heart of the persian empire of antiquity, iran has long played an important role in the region as an imperial power and as a factor in superpower rivalries. It is difficult to appreciate the different aspects of the islamic policy with out fully understanding these three principles. The political regime of the islamic republic of iran in. Khomeini did not simply advocate for a modern theocracy. The student movement in the islamic republic of iran. Even though the iranian political system operates under the framework of a theocracy, there is a relatively high level of political freedom and democracy in iran when compared to many other nations in the middle east such as saudi arabia, israel, egypt, and syria. Opponents of the regime who are willing to use force, such as the mujahedinekhalq, are largely discredited and in exile. Under the monarchy the political culture had been elitist in the sense that all. Iran as a middle eastern country the islamic republic of iran is situated in the northern hemisphere in southwest asia and has a land area of 1,648,195 km.
Oct 01, 2016 since the 197879 iranian revolution, there has been much analysis by political scientists and political leaders as to what makes up the iranian political system. The politics of iran take place in a framework that officially combines elements of theocracy and presidential democracy. This is clearly stated in article 107 of the constitution. The political regime of the islamic republic of iran in comparative perspective volume 36 issue 1 h. Irans current political system is based on the 1979 constitution that followed the islamic revolution and amendments passed by popular referendum in 1989. Jun 06, 2017 political system of iran june 6, 2017 in intl affairs, june 2017 leave a comment the islamic republic of iran is a constitutional, theocratic republic in which shia muslim clergy and political leaders vetted by the clergy dominate the key power structures. The government of the islamic republic of iran persian. It mentions the word democracy only once in the preamble. Politics and governance congressional research service summary iraqs sectarian and ethnic divisionsmuted toward the end of the 20032011 u.
The supreme leader, irans highestranking political, military, and religious authority, and the. Successive electoral victories by khatami and his political allies have raised expectations about the prospects for iran s reform movement. To this end, it has enacted protectionist measures and trade policies to iraqs disadvantage, tried. Constitution of the islamic republic of iran, setting forth as it does the political, social, cultural, and economic institutions and their relations that are to exist in society, must now provide for the consolidation of the foundations of islamic government, and propose the plan of a new system of government to be erected on. Modern iranian culture owes itself in part to a renaissance in the 8th century. Theocratic, judicial, legislative, executive, and security share common themes that cross bureaucratic, societal and personal boundaries. It does so by considering the broader developments in national. Irans political system functions in a theocratic structure of syncretic politics that is ruled by an islamist ideology. In large complex societies, many decisions must be made about the duties and responsibilities of citizens and also about the rights and privileges. Notwithstanding these realities, irans political system is not immutable. Pdf elections and political system in iran ips situational brief. However what most people fail to comprehend is the role of the shia clergy in iranian politics. The first period might be referred to as the first republic or the period of revolutionary.
In iran s complex and intertwined political system, the supreme leader has a very special status and is the highest authority in the country. Iran is a republic in which the president, parliament majles and judicial system share powers reserved to the national government, according to its constitution. Successive electoral victories by khatami and his political allies have raised expectations about the prospects for irans reform movement. Irans political economy since the revolution by suzanne maloney. Political system of the islamic republic of iran mohammad mahmood on. Its neighbors are turkmenistan, azerbaijan and armenia in the north, afghanistan.
Irans political economy since the revolution by suzanne. Iran s complex political system is, in many ways, an experiment, combining elements of a modern islamic theocracy with democracy. The safavid dynasty ruled iran until 1722, when an afghan army invaded the country and captured isfahan. Deep policy differences among the various factions that constitute the reform move.
The political system of islam has been based on three principles, viz. Comparisons within countries over time that do not also compare across countries do not earn a point. At this time, the constitution of the islamic republic of iran, as an articulation of the political, social, cultural, and economic relations and institutions of the society, was to open the way for af. Jadaliyya susanne maloneys irans political economy since the revolution is an exceptionally detailed account covering irans economic struggles, achievements, and challenges. The obvious difference lies in the fact that iran is an islamic theocracy, and that one man, the supreme leader, exerts ideological and political control over a system dominated by clerics who. Since the 197879 iranian revolution, there has been much analysis by political scientists and political leaders as to what makes up the iranian political system. I will, therefore, begin with a brief exposition of them. The constitution of the islamic republic of iran, setting forth as it does the political, social, cultural, and economic institutions and their relations that are to exist in.
Ultimate power remains in the hands of its clerical elite. Irans political, demographic, and economic vulnerabilities rand. They emerged from a crowded field for several reasons. The historical and religious basis of irans political system. After achieving such a general picture of the middle east situation, the characteristics of the political system in iran, that is the islamic republic can be better understood. Irans political, demographic, and economic vulnerabilities. Iran is a country that has experienced an islamic revolution, yet has institutionalized many democratic principles. The president and the majlis parliament are elected. Memorandum of the foreign trade regime of iran 145page official pdf document describing all ministries and institutes affiliated to the.
The iranian political system since the revolution it is useful to look at the political history of the islamic revolution as divided into three distinct periods. You have supplied an opportunity to expound on one of my favorite topics. The current iranian constitution was adopted on december 3, 1979, after a referendum in which 99. Each society must have a political system in order to maintain recognized procedures for allocating valued resources.