Iranfrq

=Iran Free Response Questions=


 * Terms and Definitions**

1.) What is meant by a rentier (rent seeking state)? How does a rentier state benefit from this status? How does the relationship between the people and the government change in a rentier state such as Iran during the time of the Shahs?


 * **A rentier state is one that gets all of its money from one natural resource. Rentier state's benefit from this because they become very wealthy. The relationship between the people and the government changes in this kind of state to a very corrupt relationship. The government can stop taxing the people since they are now making enough revenue, which leads the gov. to not serve the people anymore. The people are left with poor services and goods, breaking the relationship between the government and the people.**
 * Ms. T: This is a good start: rarely are things ALL one way or another. Might be better to stay most of its revenue (rather than money). Who pays the rent in this case? That would be important to emphasize in the definition. A good job on emphasizing that in such a state, the state can fund its expenditures through this rent and therefore has little need for taxes. Without those taxes, the people lose an important form of accountability. It doens't necessarily mean that there will be poor public goods and services but that those services are not funded through taxes.

2.) Identify two similarities in the goals of the Cultural Revolution in China and the Cultural Revolution in Iran. In both Cultural Revolutions, the leaders were attempting to rid their countries of opposition. In China's case, Mao used the violent Red Guard and People's Liberation Army to exterminate critics of the Communist Party. In Iran, after the republic was founded the new government sought to eliminate opposition by executing those in favor of secularism and liberal ideas. (CG)

Good! And relied heavily on the Revolutionary Guard (similar to the Red Guard) to drive out opposition.

3.) Define theocracy. Identify two national level institutions in Iran for which members are directly elected by the citizens. The President (Lindsey)
 * Theocracy - a government created through religious beliefs. Ms.T: okay. This is one of the definitions that we need to nail. You have the vocabulary to describe a theocracy more acurately. Do you wanted to say "created" through religious beliefs. Take another stab at it Lindsey!) **
 * I didn't do Theocracy, I'm just the red, but here's just a little more about it **
 * Theocracy: a government that gets its legitimacy through religious leadership. The authority in a theocracy comes straight from God. When Iran became a theocracy, it became a state with a mixture in the government of democracy and theocracy; based on clerical authority as well as popular sovereignty. Theocracy is another way that Iran is able to achieve legitimacy. (Lindsey) **
 * started being elected in 1979 because of the written constitution
 * elected by the people every 4 years
 * majority rules system
 * oversees budget, deals with economic matters, proposes legislation
 * all candidates must be approved by the Guardian Council

Majles (unitary legislature)
 * elected by the people every four years but NOT in the same year as the president!
 * comes up with and passes laws
 * dates back to the 1906 Constitution which also created the General Asssembly
 * all candidates must be approved by the Guardian Council

The Assembly of Religious Experts
 * directly elected by the people every four years
 * has the power of constitutional interpretation and approving or dismissing the Supreme Leader
 * all candidates must be approved by the Guardian Council

In a theocracy power is derived from religion and the belief that the leader in place holds power because they are chosen by God. National leaders are often clergy members and other types of religious leaders. For instance, in Iran the Supreme Leader is an all-powerful figure who is thought to be an expert on religion and the wishes of God. He holds a huge amount of power in Iran and the only checks on his power come from the Assembly of Religious Experts who are also part of the theocracy. (CG)


 * Conceptual Analysis**

4.) a. Define the concept of "democratization." Democratization is the process of transition to a more democratic regime. Democratization is when a state starts tipping the scale of freedom v. collective equality more towards freedom. An example of the democratization of a state is China. Since Deng, China has democratized their economy; privatizing land, establishing a market, encouraging innovation and competition. Deng's Xaiong Theory shows the process of an authoritarian state transitioning to democratic ideals. (KS)

b. Describe on factor in Russia and one factor in Iran that hinders democratization. Anything that would prevent free and fair elections Russia: control gov. has over media, Putin's vertical power (governors) The ability to control the media coverage/spin prevents free and fair elections. In a system that supports free and fair elections, any citizen can run for any position, which encourages competition and opposition. However, Putin narrows the debate by controlling the information the citizens are receiving. By doing so, Putin is able to manipulate elections just as easily as he manipulates the news. These examples need to be specific. How does Putin accomplish the power vertical? What kind of control does the Russian govt. exert over the media?

Iran: Guardian Council = in control of EVERYTHING (approves candidates) The concept of jurist's guardianship which

c. Describe one global (external force) that is impacting each of those countries and how that force will likely encourage democratization. Internet - very difficult for these authoritarian gov. to hide what they are doing. If people can expose the tactics that the authoritarian regimes are using, it's going to be that much difficult to hide it. EX: Besslan Massacre, Tiennamen Square - not like today

You could also discuss the impact of the oil market which is drawing Iran and Russia into the global market.

Another interesting idea to explore: the impact of outside protesters---such as the ones at the UN that Sarah wrote about---or the groups that protest for change in Russia that Emillee wrote about.


 * Country Context**

5.) a.)Describe a significant political cleavage (conflict/division) in Iran and explain why it is politically significant? - Conflict or division: Sunnis v. Shiites 90% Shiite population v. 10% Sunni population - Class division: disconnection between the educated middle class (wants reform and secularization) and the lower classes (very religious, support allotyalh and Supreme Leader)--> helps to define where that struggle for power is taking place

b.) Describe a significant political cleavage (conflict/division) in Russia and explain why it is politically significant? Urban v. Rural -Urban population = wealthier and the rural population = very poor  Division between ethnic Russians and Ethnic minorities  -Chechens - no identity

c.) Identify a feature of government structure or organization that ameliorates or exacerbates each of the cleavages identified above and expalin how that feature affects the cleavage. Iran - position of the Guardian Council over seeing the candidates up for office (Guardian Council will through out anyone who doesn't fit their vision of who should be running) --- leave people feeling as if they had no other way 2009 election: false turn come out of the vote - people protested

Russia - Putin changed the way that the Duma is election (proportional representation), appointing the governors - no separate power bases or ways to challenge

RUSSIA: see something about conflict -- Chechen

6.)The political cultures of the Russian Federation and Iran may both be described as conflictual.

a. Describe one basic conflict at work within the Russian political culture.

b. Explain one political consequence of the conflict you identified in (a) for the modern Russian political system.

c. Describe one basic conflict at work within the Iranian political culture. There is constant conflict between theocracy and democracy. Their government is made up of both. The Supreme Leader, Guardian Council, and Expediency Council reprensent the theocrats. The Guardian Council must be appointed by the majles who are on the democratic side along with the Council of Religious Experts and the President. But the Guardian Council must approve all members of the democratic side. There is a constant contestation for power. (CG)

Another source of potential conflict: Sunnis vs. Shiites | educated women vs. the Islamic Republic

d. Explain one political consequence of the conflict you identified in (c) for the modern Iranian political system.

One political consequence of the situation described by CG above is that you periodically see protests developing in Iran when there is no other way for the minority to express themselves. The 2009 protests over the disputed election reflect that. This site has a good overview of the election and the political consequences of this conflict. []

This was not the first protest: 2002 students protested against the execution of a reformist who was accused of insulting Islam.

7.) The expectations citizens have of their governments often play a major role in determining the scope of government policy or action.

a.) Describe one example of public expectations affecting government policy or action in the United Kingdom. EX: paying for college People having the expectation that the British gov. will pay for education, but Austerity plan

b.) Describe one example of public expectations affecting government policy or action in Iran. Election of 2009: expect to have free and fair elections and that their voice is going to be counted

c.) For each of these examples, describe a factor that limits the ability of the government to totally meet the public expectations and how that factor limits the government. Britain: Money, deficits: welfare services and public services are expensive Iran: limits government because people show up on the streets  -- Wouldn't maintaining power and authority be the factor that limits the Iranian government's ability to totally meet the public expectations of democracy? (KS)

8.) Recruiting new and potential political leaders is an important part of all political systems.

a.) Describe two features of the political system in China and two features in the political system of Iran that facilitate or limit the recruitment of the political elite. China: nomencalture Control of the CCP and the Guardian Council

b. )Using the factor that you described in (a), explain why it is easier to gain access to the political elite in one of the two countries you wrote about. I'm kind of confused about this one... does anyone get it? (KS)

9.) Political competition transparency are key concepts that political scientists use when evaluating political systems.

a.) Describe political competition, and describe transparency in the context of politics.

b.) Explain the function of Iran's Guardian Council in the electoral process.

c.) Explain how the Guardian Council affects both political competition and transparency in Iran.

10.) a.) Describe one similarity in the procedure for selecting the President in Iran and the United States. (KW)
 * Both countries have, in one way or another, a form of elections to elect the president. The citizens have a right to vote for the president. à popularly elected president. (CT: Good job! you could also emphasize that these elections are held every four years and that each has a term term limit and that the prodecures for electing the president are outline in the Constutions of each country.)

b.)Describe one difference in the procedure for selecting the president in Iran and the United States.


 * In Iran, the opponents for president are chosen by the Supreme Leader à the president can be overruled and even dismissed by the Supreme Leader --- (CT: good -- it makes sense to focus on how candidates are selected to run for this office. It's actually the Guardian Council rather than the Supreme Leader himself who has veto power over candidates for office--the Guardian Council has dismissed thousands of Iranians who have wanted to stand for office -- including for the Majles and the Council of Religious Experts.
 * In the United States, anybody can essentially run for president, as long as they have the means to do so ---not quite anyone--you have to be born in the US and be 35 or over. If you are going to focus on how candidates are selected it would make sense to do so by explaining briefly the extensive primaries that are held in the states to winnow down an large field to two main candidates.

c.) Explain why the U.S. President has more power than the Iranian president.


 * In the United States, the president is the chief of staff, the head of the executive branch.
 * In Iran, t he president, the chief executive, sits under the Supreme leader. T he Supreme Leader is the leader that looks over the executive, judicial, and legislative branches of government à the link between the three branches.
 * KW: this needs to be a more extensive discussion. Give it another whirl! This is the meant of the question. Now that you have identified similarities and differences, how does that affect the power of the office. [|Sewa Ruang Kantor Jakarta Murah]

11.) Population growth rate is defined as the average annual percent change in the population ranging from a surplus or deficit of births over deaths.

a.) Describe one trend shown in the graph for Iran and describe one trend in the graph shown for China.

b.) Explain one policy Iran has used to address population growth issues. Explain one policy China has used to address population growth issues.

c.) Explain why both Iran and China pursued population growth policies.

d.) Describe one social or economic consequences of manipulating population growth rates.