LECTURE 1: MAKING SENSE OF THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF
IRAN
1979 revolution =/= not islamic, but iranian/people’s revolution.
Seven republics from 1979 until now. All presidents were elected for a second term (8 years).
1st republic 1979-1989: Ayatollah Khomeini
Institutionalising the revolution at home = institutionalising political system.
o Velayat-e-Faghih = theory in Shia islam ⇒ expanded into absolute
guardianship over all citizens and not juts orphans and widows(religious or
not) ⇒ concept formed the basis of the Iranian constitution after the
revolution. Necessary to protect and preserve Islam.
o Society should be governed by those who have the most knowledge about
Islamic law.
o Supreme leader appoints Guardian council, charged with interpreting the
constitutions and supervising elections, and approving candidates for
elections. Made of experts of Islam and others. Quite conservative and
reactionary body that oversees a lot.
o Leader also appoints heads of judiciary and armed forces.
Exporting the revolution abroad.
o Years of radicalisation, both in political discourse and practices.
o Hostage crisis.
Diplomatic standoff between Iran and USA because of American
diplomats held hostage.
Created a bad image of this new regime, with a political system that
does not respect diplomatic agreements. Impact on the collective
memories of Americans, even now.
o Iran/Iraq war (1980-1988).
Iraq invading Iran to snatch territories or avoid the exportation of
Iran’s new system that would influence other Shias.
The US, and European etc supported Saddam Hussein because they
feared this new Islamic Republic and the possibility of exportation of
their ways.
o Fatwa against Salman Rushdie
Heated reaction to the publication of a satanic verse: was accused of
blasphemy.
Fatwa issued by Khomeini to kill Rushdie, who was a British citizen.
Developing the image of an irrational and non-democratic country.
Second Republic (1989-1997): Years of reconstruction
Ayatollah Khamenei (at the time president) and President Rafsanjani
, Legitimacy crisis succession Ayatollah Khomeini, was not clear who would be the
next supreme leader.
o The concept of Marja-e-Taghlid = source to follow = title given to the Shia
jurist with the highest authority.
o Khamenei was appointed, and Rafsanjani was elected president (adopted an
‘economy first’ type of policy, with modernisation and privatisation).
Pragmatism
o More moderate in terms of foreign policy, trying to rebuild relations, like with
Saudi Arabia.
Approaching the West
o Critical dialogue Iran and the EU, started by Germany (never a colonial power
there so better in the Middle Eastern minds)
The 3rd Republic (1997-2005): Years of reform
President Khatami = reform-minded candidate
Internal political reforms
o Rule of law
o Civil society.
Emphasised the role of NGOs etc as a check against the state.
Liberal interpretation of islam.
‘Dialogue between civilisations’.
o Addressed Americans through CNN, talking with Saudi Arabia, constructive
dialogue with the EU.
o Aim to bring Iran out of its isolation.
Also start of nuclear dispute.
The reforms were not that successful in the end, unable to deliver what he had
promised.
The 4th republic (2005-2013): Years of backlash
Increased anti-Western discourse, got close with African countries, or Russia and
China.
The green movement: massive protests.
o After days of protests, the regime crashed down on protest and arrested
many people.
Nuclear impasse
o President defended Iran’s Nuclear program.
o US intensified its sanctions against Iran.
The Iranian enemy: Israel.
Anti-Israel discourse, like refusing to recognise the state.
Isolating Iran even more, at least vis a vis Western countries.
The Iranian Friends: USA
programs and diplomacy in the 50s.
The 5th Republic (2013-2021): Years of Pragmatism
President Rohani // from Obama to Trump
Wanted to bring Iran out of international isolation.
, o Tense and long period of diplomatic discussion with 6th powers to solve
(nuclear) disputes.
o Booming business.
o Direct talks with the US.
But then Trump came = flirting with war.
o Wanted to pull the US out of the big and important deal with Iran, and install
sanctions.
The 6th Republic (2021-2024):
Biden and President Raisi
A new direction?
Challenging sanctions: focus on ‘resistance economy’, cause the economy is not
doing very well then.
Focus on the military industrial complex these last years, and its development.
Challenging the West and its sanctions, and getting closer and closer with Russia and
China through deals and partnerships.
Becomes a member of the BRICS January 1st 2024.
Continuities:
Hostile Iran US/Israel relations.
Difficult with other Western countries.
Changes:
Escalation into direct confrontation with US and Israel.
Growing cooperation with Russia and China.
A new Challenge? Protests following the death of Mahsa Amini.
Growing tensions between Iran and Israel and escalation of the proxy-conflict.
Israeli bombing of the Iranian embassy complex in Damascus April 1st 2024.
Iran launches strikes inside Israel on April 13th 2024.
Israel carries out limited strikes in Iran April 19th.
Abrupt ending of 6th republic:
19th of may 2024 the president is killed in a crash.
Vice president took over as interim, and elections were held within 50 days.
New president: Masoud Pezeshkian, considered a centrist, supported by reformists
during the elections. Very loyal to the Supreme Leader.
Killing of leader of Hamas in Iran = humiliation for Iran.
, LECTURE 2: MODERN IRAN AND ITS HISTORICAL TIMELINE
QAJAR DYNASTY (1794-1925):
Reign of Nasser al-Din Shah: first modern Persian monarch who formally visited Europe;
modernizing Iran, but tax reforms were abused by people in power and his government
were viewed as corrupt. This led to his assassination in 1896.
Tobacco Movement 1891: Shia Muslim revolt against an 1890 tobacco concession granted to
the UK, granting British control over growth, sale and export of tobacco.
→ Example of why Iranians mistrust the British (/West)(collective memory) & Shia ranking
went for the first time against the king.
Mohammed-Ali Shah (1907-1909): attempted to rescind the constitution and abolish
parliamentary government.
Constitutional Revolution 1905: bazaar merchants and radical reformes argued that Iran’s oil
industry was being sold to the British, while tax breaks on imports, exports and
manufactured textiles were destroying Iran’s economy, and that the Shah was selling assets
to pay interest on the fortune in foreign debt he had accumulated.
Anglo-Russian convention 1907: ended the rivalry between Russia and Great Britain and
divided Iran in two spheres of influence. (Northern five provinces Russian influence; south
Great Britain) → also led to the Triple Entente.
IRAN
1979 revolution =/= not islamic, but iranian/people’s revolution.
Seven republics from 1979 until now. All presidents were elected for a second term (8 years).
1st republic 1979-1989: Ayatollah Khomeini
Institutionalising the revolution at home = institutionalising political system.
o Velayat-e-Faghih = theory in Shia islam ⇒ expanded into absolute
guardianship over all citizens and not juts orphans and widows(religious or
not) ⇒ concept formed the basis of the Iranian constitution after the
revolution. Necessary to protect and preserve Islam.
o Society should be governed by those who have the most knowledge about
Islamic law.
o Supreme leader appoints Guardian council, charged with interpreting the
constitutions and supervising elections, and approving candidates for
elections. Made of experts of Islam and others. Quite conservative and
reactionary body that oversees a lot.
o Leader also appoints heads of judiciary and armed forces.
Exporting the revolution abroad.
o Years of radicalisation, both in political discourse and practices.
o Hostage crisis.
Diplomatic standoff between Iran and USA because of American
diplomats held hostage.
Created a bad image of this new regime, with a political system that
does not respect diplomatic agreements. Impact on the collective
memories of Americans, even now.
o Iran/Iraq war (1980-1988).
Iraq invading Iran to snatch territories or avoid the exportation of
Iran’s new system that would influence other Shias.
The US, and European etc supported Saddam Hussein because they
feared this new Islamic Republic and the possibility of exportation of
their ways.
o Fatwa against Salman Rushdie
Heated reaction to the publication of a satanic verse: was accused of
blasphemy.
Fatwa issued by Khomeini to kill Rushdie, who was a British citizen.
Developing the image of an irrational and non-democratic country.
Second Republic (1989-1997): Years of reconstruction
Ayatollah Khamenei (at the time president) and President Rafsanjani
, Legitimacy crisis succession Ayatollah Khomeini, was not clear who would be the
next supreme leader.
o The concept of Marja-e-Taghlid = source to follow = title given to the Shia
jurist with the highest authority.
o Khamenei was appointed, and Rafsanjani was elected president (adopted an
‘economy first’ type of policy, with modernisation and privatisation).
Pragmatism
o More moderate in terms of foreign policy, trying to rebuild relations, like with
Saudi Arabia.
Approaching the West
o Critical dialogue Iran and the EU, started by Germany (never a colonial power
there so better in the Middle Eastern minds)
The 3rd Republic (1997-2005): Years of reform
President Khatami = reform-minded candidate
Internal political reforms
o Rule of law
o Civil society.
Emphasised the role of NGOs etc as a check against the state.
Liberal interpretation of islam.
‘Dialogue between civilisations’.
o Addressed Americans through CNN, talking with Saudi Arabia, constructive
dialogue with the EU.
o Aim to bring Iran out of its isolation.
Also start of nuclear dispute.
The reforms were not that successful in the end, unable to deliver what he had
promised.
The 4th republic (2005-2013): Years of backlash
Increased anti-Western discourse, got close with African countries, or Russia and
China.
The green movement: massive protests.
o After days of protests, the regime crashed down on protest and arrested
many people.
Nuclear impasse
o President defended Iran’s Nuclear program.
o US intensified its sanctions against Iran.
The Iranian enemy: Israel.
Anti-Israel discourse, like refusing to recognise the state.
Isolating Iran even more, at least vis a vis Western countries.
The Iranian Friends: USA
programs and diplomacy in the 50s.
The 5th Republic (2013-2021): Years of Pragmatism
President Rohani // from Obama to Trump
Wanted to bring Iran out of international isolation.
, o Tense and long period of diplomatic discussion with 6th powers to solve
(nuclear) disputes.
o Booming business.
o Direct talks with the US.
But then Trump came = flirting with war.
o Wanted to pull the US out of the big and important deal with Iran, and install
sanctions.
The 6th Republic (2021-2024):
Biden and President Raisi
A new direction?
Challenging sanctions: focus on ‘resistance economy’, cause the economy is not
doing very well then.
Focus on the military industrial complex these last years, and its development.
Challenging the West and its sanctions, and getting closer and closer with Russia and
China through deals and partnerships.
Becomes a member of the BRICS January 1st 2024.
Continuities:
Hostile Iran US/Israel relations.
Difficult with other Western countries.
Changes:
Escalation into direct confrontation with US and Israel.
Growing cooperation with Russia and China.
A new Challenge? Protests following the death of Mahsa Amini.
Growing tensions between Iran and Israel and escalation of the proxy-conflict.
Israeli bombing of the Iranian embassy complex in Damascus April 1st 2024.
Iran launches strikes inside Israel on April 13th 2024.
Israel carries out limited strikes in Iran April 19th.
Abrupt ending of 6th republic:
19th of may 2024 the president is killed in a crash.
Vice president took over as interim, and elections were held within 50 days.
New president: Masoud Pezeshkian, considered a centrist, supported by reformists
during the elections. Very loyal to the Supreme Leader.
Killing of leader of Hamas in Iran = humiliation for Iran.
, LECTURE 2: MODERN IRAN AND ITS HISTORICAL TIMELINE
QAJAR DYNASTY (1794-1925):
Reign of Nasser al-Din Shah: first modern Persian monarch who formally visited Europe;
modernizing Iran, but tax reforms were abused by people in power and his government
were viewed as corrupt. This led to his assassination in 1896.
Tobacco Movement 1891: Shia Muslim revolt against an 1890 tobacco concession granted to
the UK, granting British control over growth, sale and export of tobacco.
→ Example of why Iranians mistrust the British (/West)(collective memory) & Shia ranking
went for the first time against the king.
Mohammed-Ali Shah (1907-1909): attempted to rescind the constitution and abolish
parliamentary government.
Constitutional Revolution 1905: bazaar merchants and radical reformes argued that Iran’s oil
industry was being sold to the British, while tax breaks on imports, exports and
manufactured textiles were destroying Iran’s economy, and that the Shah was selling assets
to pay interest on the fortune in foreign debt he had accumulated.
Anglo-Russian convention 1907: ended the rivalry between Russia and Great Britain and
divided Iran in two spheres of influence. (Northern five provinces Russian influence; south
Great Britain) → also led to the Triple Entente.
