Iran
Rentier State
A country that obtains much of its revenue from the export of oil or other natural resources.
Islamism
A fundamentalist Islamic revivalist movement generally characterized by moral conservatism and the literal interpretation of the Quran and the attempt to implement Islamic values in all aspects of life.
Theocracy
A government controlled by religious leaders.
Bazaar
A market selling different kinds of goods
Resource Curse
A phenomenon where states with a large amount of valuable natural resources tend to be authoritarian states with non-industrialized economies, based primarily on the service sector, with huge rich-poor gaps
Dual Society
A society and economy that are sharply divided into a traditional, usually poorer, and a modern, usually richer, sector.
Coup d' etat
A sudden overthrow of the government by a small group
Assembly of Experts
An informal body in Iran that has de facto veto power over all major political decisions.
Fundamentalism
Conservative beliefs in the Bible and that it should be literally believed and applied
Majles
Iran's parliament
Ayatollah
Iranian religious leader of the Shiites
pasdaran
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
People of the Book
Jews and Christians
Farsi
Main language in Iran
OPEC
Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries
What elements of democracy are in Iran's theocratic political system?
People still vote for the electorate.
Imam Jum'ehs
Prayer leaders in Iran's main urban mosques who are appointed by the Supreme Leader
Hezbollahis
Religious vigilantes
Guardian Council
The leading theological body in Iran for political purposes
To what extent does language, history, and religion give Iran a distinct identity?
They speak farsi, there is a lot of arabic influence and there is a lot of conflict between the sunni and shiite muslims.
Supreme Leader
Title given to the ayatollah who sits atop all Iranian political institutions.
In what ways do the clergy have extraordinary powers in Iran?
With the supreme power of the Leader and the Guardian Council in every branch of government and the extensive influence the clergy hold over public, semi public, and private institutions, the Iranian clergy have extraordinary power to influence political and social life in Iran.
Foundation of the Oppressed
a clerically controlled foundation in Iran set up after the revolution there
Expediency Council
a committee set up in Iran to resolve differences between the Majles and the Guardian Council.
Jurist's Guardianship
concept that the Iranian clergy should rule on the grounds that they are the divinely appointed guardians of both the law and the people
Hojjat al-Islam
medium-ranking cleric.
Political Islam
post Iranian revolution
maslahat
reasons of state
How do they (the clergy) control the government of the Islamic Republic?
they determine the interests of Islam they supervise the implementation of general policy set political guidelines for the Islamic republic
Qur'an
Holy book of Islam