Iran Democracy in the Middle East

1 iran

1.1 history of political systems
1.2 issues current political system
1.3 public opinion of iranians regarding current political system

iran
history of political systems

historically iranians ruled absolute monarchy several thousand years, @ least since time of achaemenid empire (550 b.c.e.) until constitutional revolution in 20th century. constitutional revolution in 1906 replaced absolute monarchy constitutional monarchy. constitution went under several revisions during following decades. during world war ii iran stayed neutral in 1941 allied forces (the ussr , great britain) invaded iran , replaced iran s shah reza pahlavi (who perceived being pro-german) son mohammad reza pahlavi protect access iranian oil, , secure routes ship western military aid soviet union. iran s parliamentary government led prime minister mohammed mosaddeq toppled in 1953 coup d état royalist forces supported , funded cia , mi6 after mohammed mosaddeq nationalized iranian oil. shah mohammad reza pahlavi became preeminent leader in iran, , instated fazlollah zahedi military new prime minister. united states has considered shah close ally , iran main base in middle east. shah tried modernize iran s economy , westernize iran s culture. these , other policies contributed alienating nationalists, leftists, , religious groups.

the monarchy overthrown in 1979 iranian revolution. in same year referendum held ruhollah khomeini, asked whether there should islamic republic or not. 1979 referendum (in favor of islamic republic) got 98% support of voted. constitution modeled on 1958 constitution of french fifth republic assembly of experts constitution (who elected direct popular vote) , khomeini made himself new supreme leader of iran. constitution received above 99% support in 1979 referendum. after khomeini s death, assembly of experts (which made of islamic scholars elected direct vote) appointed ali khamenei new supreme leader. constitution amended through referendum in 1989 97% support few months before ayatollah ruhollah khomeini died increasing powers of supreme leader. iran holds regular national elections universal suffrage citizens (regardless of race, religion, or sex, of voting age) electing president, members of parliament, assembly of experts, city , village councils political parties support candidates.

issues current political system

the current political system in iran designed allow iranians decide future without being oppressed authorities, in practice allows limited democracy. 1 of main problems of iran s system consolidation of power in hands of supreme leader elected assembly of experts life (unless assembly of experts decides remove him, has never happened). power of supreme leader under iran s constitution unlimited , unrestricted in practice. combined view representative of god held religious groups, being head of security , armed forces, , controlling official state media (the radio , television restricted state radio , television) makes him immune kind of criticism , unchallengeable. critics of system or supreme leader punished severely. critical newspapers , political parties closed, social , political activists writers, journalists, human right activists, university students, union leaders, lawyers, , politicians jailed unreasonably long periods making simple criticism against supreme leader, islamic republic system, islam , shia doctrines, government, , other officials. have been threatened death sentence (though such verdict in recent years have been dropped in higher courts in recent years) , have been assassinated ministry of intelligence , militias in past (no such case has been reported in recent years).

another main problem closed loop in electoral system, elected assembly of experts elects supreme leader, in theory elected indirectly popular vote, in practice system not satisfy criteria free election since supreme leader appoints members of guardian council in turn vet candidates elections including elections assembly of experts. loop limits possible candidates agreeing views held supreme leader , has final on important issues.

also fourth unchangeable article of constitution states other articles of constitution , other laws void if violate islamic rules, , guardian council given duty of interpreting constitution , verifying laws passed parliament not against islamic laws. many articles of constitution political freedoms , minority rights (e.g. education in mother language language minorities) have not been applied @ all.

other problems include issues rights of racial , religious minorities, influence , involvement of armed forces specially army of guardians of islamic revolution , basij in political activities, widespread corruption in ruling elite, problems security forces police , militias ansar-e hezbollah, , corruption in judiciary.

public opinion of iranians regarding current political system

one should note against short-comings of current system democracy mentioned above recent polls in iran number of respected western polling organizations show considerable majority of iranians support system including , religious institutions , trust elections (even disputed presidential elections in 2009). iranians , political activists dispute results of these polls arguing results of these polls cannot trusted because people fear express real opinion , limitations on follow of information allows state control opinion of people living in more traditional parts of country. of these polling organizations have responded these claims , defended results correctly showing current opinion of iranians. polls show divide between population living in large modern cities tehran , people living in other more traditional , conservative parts of country rural areas , smaller cities.