The Islamic Republic
of Iran
Citizens, Society &
The State
Presentation Outline
III. Citizens, Society, & The State
a) Political socialization
b) Cleavages
c) Civil society and interest groups
d) Protest and demonstrations
III. a) Political Socialization
1)
2)
3)
4)
Family
Public Schools
University campuses
Basij and Revolutionary Guard
Family
The Family plays a major role
in political socialization.
Children who grow up in
more secular (non-religious)
homes tend to have more
liberal and democratic values
while children who grow up
in more religious families
tend to support the regime’s
theocratic policies. The
picture on the left tells the
tale of two families (one
secular/ one religious)
Public Schools
• In Iran females and males
are segregated and attend
separate schools
• Pictures of Ayatollah
Khomeini, leader of the
revolution, are present in
every classroom and
students are instructed to
learn Iran’s revolutionary
songs, praise Khomeini, and
fight for and believe in
Iran’s theocracy
Left are female primary
students honoring
Khomeini and giving
thanks for the revolution
on the anniversary of
Iran’s Revolution
University Campuses
• Iran has a large
population under the
age of 30
• Campuses are
generally a hotbed of
student radicalism and
protests
• Since 1989 many of
these protests have
been directed against
the regime with class
for reform and
democratization
Basij and Revolutionary Guard
The Basij (voluntary militia) and the
Revolutionary Guard (full-time army which
protects the Supreme Leader) are ultranationalist and conservative elements which
strong support the regime
The Basij
The Revolutionary Guard
III. b) Cleavages
1) Ethnicity
2) Religion
3) Secular vs. Religious
Ethnicity
• Iran is a multi-ethnic
state with Persians
constituting about 51%
of the population
• Among the larger ethnic
minorities are Azeris,
Kurds, and Arabs
• Although Iran has NOT
experienced separatism
many ethnic minorities
have expressed
dissatisfaction with the
Persian majority
Ethno- Religious Groups in Iran
90% of
Iranians are
Shi’a Muslims
Shi’a Islam is a cross-cutting cleavage
which ensures stability.
Ethnic Groups
Influence/Power
Religion
Wealth
Persians
Well-represented in
power and politics
Shi’a Islam
Poor/middle
class/wealthy
Azeris
Well-represented in
power and politics
Shi’a Islam
Poor/middle
class/wealthy
Kurds
Underrepresented
in power and
politics
Shi’a Islam
Mostly poor and
middle class
Arabs
Underrepresented
in power and
politics
Shi’a Islam
Mostly poor and
middle class
Secular vs. Religious cleavage
• The most significant cleavage is the divide
between the ultra-religious and the nonreligious or secular middle classes
• Generally, secular Iranians tend to support
reformist politicians and democratization
while the ultra-religious tend to strongly
support conservative politicians and the
regime.
One State but Two Different Worlds and Visions!
III. c) Civil Society and Interest groups
• Iran civil society exists but is highly restricted
by the regime
• Interest groups which criticize Shi’a Islam or
the regime tend to be crushed very quickly
Iran’s press
• Iran has both private and public media
• The media, however, is forbidden from criticizing
the regime, the Supreme Leader, or Shi’a Islam
• The media may comment on the economy, the
Majles, and the president and even offer
criticisms
• Foreign media and the internet is heavily
censored
Freedom House rates Iran’s Press as Not Free
Internet Censorship and Filtering: The darkest
color represents states with the highest level of
censorship. Any familiar places?
Interest groups
Iran does not have an organized system of
interest groups
Informally, the bazaari merchants have had a lot
of influence over economic policy over the last
20 years
The bazaari merchants are
well-organized and control
about one third of Iran’s
retail sales. They sell spices,
clothes, furniture, and rugs
among many other items. In
the past, Iranian
governments have given
them generous subsidies on
fuel to run their businesses.
At times, they have even
gone on strike to force their
demands.
III. d) Protests and demonstrations
• The regime does not
encourage protests and
demonstrations unless
they are directed against
the United States or
Israel.
Does this sound
familiar?
• Demonstrations for reform and
democratization have occurred since 1989 and
have been largely supported by young
Iranians, particularly university students
• The two major protest events occurred in 1999
and 2009
1999 Student Protest
In early July, 1999 thousands
of university students
peacefully demonstrated on
the streets of Tehran to
protest the government’s
closing of a reformist
newspaper. The government
sent in the Basij to crush the
protests. Approximately 10
people died and over a
thousand were arrested.
Iconic photo of a demonstrator
holding up the shirt of his friend
who had been killed by the
Basij.
2009 Protests
Tens of thousands of
Iranians, many of them under
30 years old, took to the
streets of Tehran, and other
major cities in Iran to protest
the result of the 2009
presidential election. Many
claimed that the election was
fraudulent and that Mir
Hossein Mousavi had been
denied the presidency by the
Basij and Guardian Council
The Green Revolution: Reformists chose
Green as the color of revolution and
democracy.
The Supreme Leader responded by sending in the
Basij to crush the demonstrations.