Question 1

Explain how reformists differ from political conservatives (principalists) in the debate over the relationship between religion and the state.In the absence of institutionalized parties, what other debates form ideological cleavages in Iranian society?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain how reformists differ from political conservatives...

Question 2

Describe the burst of political party development after the 1979 revolution, as well as its contraction leading up to the 1987 elections.How was political debate transformed in the Majlis after 1987?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe the burst of political party development...

Question 3

The velayat-e faqih refers to
A)those fundamentalist Shia who reject the Koran over the worship of the hidden imam.
B)the belief in clerical rule that gives political power to religious leaders.
C)the core belief of quietist Shia that politics and faith must not be mixed.
D)the belief in economic redistribution as consistent with the Koran's emphasis on social justice.

Accepted Answer

The velayat-e faqih is a core belief of Iranian Shia Islam that asserts that religious leaders (faqih) have political authority over society and the state. This concept is based on the idea that the Prophet Muhammad's descendants have a spiritual and political authority, which can be traced through religious jurisprudence to designate the Supreme Leader of Iran. The velayat-e faqih has been a central element of the Iranian constitution since the Islamic Revolution in 1979, and it gives Iran's Supreme Leader ultimate authority over the state's affairs.

Question 4

Which of the following is true of the Azeri in Iran?
A)The collapse of the Soviet Union indirectly helped foster a stronger ethnic identity among Iranian Azeris.
B)Improving relations between Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan have helped the position of the Azeri in Iran.
C)Azeris have historically played almost no role in the major facets of Iranian life.
D)They are Iran's smallest, most persecuted minority.

Accepted Answer

The collapse of the Soviet Union led to an increase in cultural and linguistic ties between Iranian Azeris and their counterparts in the Republic of Azerbaijan, which in turn helped foster a stronger ethnic identity among Iranian Azeris. While there have been efforts to improve relations between Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan, it is not necessarily specific to the position of Azeris in Iran. Azeris have historically played a significant role in Iranian life, particularly in politics and culture. They are not Iran's smallest or most persecuted minority.

Question 5

Which of the following powers is among those possessed by the president of the Iranian Republic?
A)vetoing legislation
B)dissolving the legislature
C)selecting a cabinet of ministers
D)controlling the military

Accepted Answer

The president of the Iranian Republic has the power to select a cabinet of ministers.

Answer: D 
 Although the president is not the supreme commander of the military, they have some control over it as the head of the Supreme National Security Council.

Therefore, the best choices would be either C or D, depending on the level of control one considers to be sufficient to qualify as possessing the power. A and B are incorrect as the Iranian President does not have the power to directly veto legislation or dissolve the legislature.

Question 6

Describe the three events in 1979 that turned public protest against the shah into a revolution.
What was the United States' role in these events?

Accepted Answer

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Question 7

Which of the following statements most accurately describes the state of political or religious culture in Iran?
A)Surveys show that the majority population opposes democracy for religious reasons.
B)Surveys indicate that women are more religiously conservative than men in Iran.
C)Surveys show that many Iranians support both democracy and keeping religion an important part of their lives.
D)Surveys show that the youth are more religious than those born before 1979.

Accepted Answer

While there is certainly a strong religious presence in Iran and many embrace it as a central part of their daily lives, surveys have consistently shown that Iranians also overwhelmingly support democracy and political freedoms. This is in spite of government attempts to suppress political opposition and maintain control. The majority of Iranians hold a nuanced view of the relationship between religion and politics, recognizing the importance of both but also insisting on their separation.

Question 8

Within Iranian political culture, what is the relationship between followers of the "quietist" philosophy and the broader reformist versus conservative division?
A)Quietists' fundamentalist belief in the totality of Islam makes them even more extreme than most conservatives, who occasionally use quietists as political allies.
B)Quietists' belief that Islam should act as an intermediary between state and society leads them to align with the conservatives who place clerics as stewards of government.
C)Quietists' belief that Islam should not be mixed with politics leads them to reject the broad positions of both the reformers and the conservatives.
D)Quietists' opposition to the combination of politics with Islam leads them to align with the more secularist reform camp.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Within Iranian political culture, what is the...

Question 9

How did the discovery of oil in Iran affect its economic development, particularly with respect to the top-down mercantilist model? What role have the bonyads played in the Iranian economy?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How did the discovery of oil in...

Question 10

Describe how Iran differs from other Middle Eastern societies in terms of Internet access.Why has this development largely failed to introduce more democratic elements into government?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe how Iran differs from other Middle...

Quiz 15: Iran

Explain how reformists differ from political conservatives (principalists) in the debate over the relationship between religion and the state.In the absence of institutionalized parties, what other debates form ideological cleavages in Iranian society?

Describe the burst of political party development after the 1979 revolution, as well as its contraction leading up to the 1987 elections.How was political debate transformed in the Majlis after 1987?

The velayat-e faqih refers to

Which of the following is true of the Azeri in Iran?

Which of the following powers is among those possessed by the president of the Iranian Republic?

Describe the three events in 1979 that turned public protest against the shah into a revolution. What was the United States' role in these events?

Which of the following statements most accurately describes the state of political or religious culture in Iran?

Within Iranian political culture, what is the relationship between followers of the "quietist" philosophy and the broader reformist versus conservative division?

How did the discovery of oil in Iran affect its economic development, particularly with respect to the top-down mercantilist model? What role have the bonyads played in the Iranian economy?

Describe how Iran differs from other Middle Eastern societies in terms of Internet access.Why has this development largely failed to introduce more democratic elements into government?