Transcript Iran Introx - Mercer Island School District

The Islamic Republic of
Iran
Physical Geography
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
3x the size of France
Largest country in Middle East
Borders 7 countries and 2 bodies of water
Has 2 major mountain ranges within its
borders
Climate:
o
arid/semiarid, subtropical along Caspian coast
10% arable land
Placement in the area's oil shipping routes
Demographics
•
•
•
77.5 million
Farsi is main language
o
•
After Revolution 90% speak
Turkic,/Azeri/Turkman, Gilaki/Mazandarani,
Kurdish and Arabic also spoken
•
61% Persian
Demographics
•
•
•
Tehran is the Capital
Tehran, Qom, Isfahan are largest cities
67% population lives in urban areas
Oil & Other Resources
History
•
Safavids (1501-1722)
•
Qajars (1794-1925)
•
Pahlavis (1925-1979)
•
Islamic Republic
(1979-2001)
Safavids (1501-1722)
•
•
Converted population to Shi'ism
Tolerated
other Religions like
Judaism, Christianity &
Zoroastrianism (all of
which are considered
People of the Book
Qajars (1794 - 1925)
Qajars (1794 - 1925)
•
Constitution Revolution (1905-1909)
o Leads people to believe that a coup/revolt may succeed.
•
Central government does not have a real
army, bureaucracy or tax collection
machinery and cannot administer provinces
Pahlavis (1925-1979)
General Reza Khan
(1925-41)
•
•
came to power through coup d'état
After 4 years deposed Qajars and
became Shah
•
•
Ruled with iron fist
Abdicated throne to son under duress
Pahlavis (1925-1979)
Muhammad Reza Shah
•
•
Muhammad Reza Shah
Ruled for 38 years, takes
practical power in ‘53
•
Faced problems with:
o
Free Press
o
Opposition Parties
o
Mosaddeq and Nationalist
movement
Pahlavis (1925-1979)
•
1951 Mosaddeq is elected
prime minister
•
Supports the Tudeh Party
(communist)
•
1953 CIA funded coup gives
Shah absolute power
•
State becomes centralized
Iran Under the Shah
•
State rests on 3 pillars
o
•
•
•
•
Armed forces, Bureaucracy, Royal Patronage System
Strict SAVAK secret police
Many ministries created
Education expanded
Provincial governors, mayors and electoral
supervisors elected by Interior ministry
o
Allows Majles elections to be rigged
Iran Under the Shah
•
•
•
•
•
•
Country modernizes
o
More railways and roads
o
More factories, hospitals
Agriculture increases
Land reform with "White Revolution"
State controls bank and five year plans
State has monopoly on Radio and TV
Oil production and revenue increase
Iran Under the Shah
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Westernizes Iran
Shari'a law replaced
Modern judicial system and Supreme court
Family Protection Law
Supports secular state
Changes from Islamic to Royalist calendar
Shah retitles himself
The Tipping Point
•
•
•
Shah lives in excess
o
billions in Casinos, Resorts, Hotels
o
Pahlavi Foundation controls companies
1975 Iran is one party state
Citizens oppressed
o
SAVAK – ()secret) state police
o
Censored media
o
Constitution is disregarded
Shah seen as megalomaniac, puppet of
Islamic Revolution (1977-79)
•
•
•
Newspaper publishes harsh review of Shah
1977 economic difficulties
International pressure to curb human rights
violations
•
•
•
Protests begin in Qom
"Bloody Friday" on September 8th, 1978
Strikes
Islamic Revolution (1977-1979)
•
Police and judicial system
replaced
o
•
Shari'a law implemented
Anti-regime rallies in
Tehran have mass
support
•
Secret Revolutionary
Islamic Revolution (1977-1979)
Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini
•
Islamic fundamentalist
("political Islam")
•
Denounces Shah for
exploiting the masses
•
More political revolutionary
than dogmatic theologian
•
Exile in Iraq and Paris
Islamic Revolution (1977-1979)
Khomeini's beliefs:
•
•
Democracy through Islam
Senior clergy are part of velayat-e faqih
(jurist guardianship- senior clerics
should be the ones to make the
largest decisions for the people)
Clergy champions for rights of people
Islamic Revolution (1977-1979)
•
•
•
Soldiers desert to opposition
Shah flees Iran
Khomeini returns February
11, 1979
•
Armed groups took over radio
stations to announce new
voice of Iran
•
First televised revolution
Islamic Republic (1979-Present)
•
•
97% of voters endorsed change
Liberal voters wanted a Democratic Islamic
Republic
•
Highly theocratic constitution written by
Assembly of Religious Experts
•
•
Assembly of pro-Khomeini high ranking clerics
Voters who disagreed were intimidated into
siding with Khomeini
Islamic Republic (1979-Present)
•
•
99% of voters approve constitution
Mehdi Bazargan (PM) advocates French
style republic but is ignored
o Media gives him a bad image
o
•
Resigns after hostage crisis
Constitution gives much
power in Khoemeini
Islamic Republic (1979-Present)
•
Power easily consolidated during 1st decade
o
No one would challenge Khomeini
o
Khomeini popular and Charismatic
o
Iraq invades in 1980 so nation comes together
o
Oil prices rise and country can fund internal
development
Islamic Republic (1979-Present)
•
Challenges occur in 2nd decade
o Khomeini dies in 1989
o Successor, Ali Khamenei, not as
charismatic and lacks credentials
o Iraq-Iran war ends
o Oil prices drop
o
Disciples and
court divide into
conservative and
liberal wings
Islamic Republic (1979-Present)
Mohammad Khatami
•
•
•
•
Elected 1997
More moderate
More westernized
Proposes Grand Bargain to US
o
Recognition of Israel
o
Nuclear Program
o
Hamas and Palestine
Iran After September 11th
•
War on terror brings US and Iran closer
o Help influence Shi'is to install pro-american
government
o Help displace Taliban in Afghanistan
•
•
Tensions rise with Axis of Evil Spech
Iran and US come to "stand off"
Possibility of Confrontation
US Advantages:
•
•
•
Large military and
many allies
Can influence Europe/UN
Bases surrounding Iran
Iran's Advantages:
•
•
•
Large land mass - too large to occupy
Oil revenue
Can influence US presence in Middle East
•
•
•
•
International Issues
Main driving force for Iranians is Nationalism
Quest to unite all muslims has ended
Iran is mending ties
Becoming more moderate, especially with
Khatami
•
Ahmadinejad was a
firebrand ,
Rouhany is more moderate.
International Issues
•
Poor relations with most
European nations and US
o
•
•
Nuclear Program
Middle East Relations
Generally will always act
in National Interest vs.
Cultural/Religious Interest
Internal Issues
•
Economic development
o
Fluctuating oil prices
o
Relies too much on oil
o
Debate between whether
to fuel with socialist or
capitalist approach
•
•
Expanded Agriculture
Unemployment
Challenges Iran Faces
•
•
•
•
Some still call for muslim Jihad (crusade)
Clergy is dividing into left, and right wings
Islam seen as inherently militant
In cultural clash/standoff reminiscent of cold war
•
Challenges Iran Faces
Views self as vanguard of muslim world but
must act in national interest
•
•
Struggle for democracy and more liberal Iran
Pres. Rouhani much more tempered than
Ahmadinejad.