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