MIDTERM NEXT MONDAY (12th)

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MIDTERM NEXT MONDAY (12th)

• 40 Multiple Choice Questions

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Lecture on Thursday (Feb.7)

• Prof. Shamsie
• Good Governance and the Case of Brazil

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Attributes of Democratic Government

• Political equality
• Majority rule
• Popular sovereignty
• Political liberty (rights and freedoms)
• Minority rights
• Political competition
• Rule of law
• How do we design Democracy to achieve these
  ideals?? How do we embed these ideals in
  institutions and processes?

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Democratic countries have varying degrees of
success with this.

• Eg. Constitutions and how rights are framed
• which rights included? how are they protected?
• Eg. Parliamentary vs. presidential systems
• different (and partial) paths to popular
  sovereignty
• Eg. SMPS vs. PR electoral systems
• majority rule vs. minority rights
• and incentives for political parties

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But what do institutions and processes in
nondemocratic countries look like?

• Can countries be sort of democratic?

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The Islamic Republic of Iran
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Peoples Republic of China
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Nondemocratic Countries

• February 5th

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Authoritarian Governments

• Authoritarianism umbrella term for governments
  whose authority is not put to test in elections
  (but not totalitarian), opposition not tolerated
  (text p.25)
• but, great variation!
• right-wing (conservative) ? Saudi Arabia,
  military governments (Latin America)
• left-wing (socialist) ? China, Russia

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• Democratic Nondemocratic
• Government Government
• Political equality Political inequality
• Majority rule Elite rule
• Popular sovereignty Tyranny, oligarchy
• Political liberty Political subjugation
• Minority rights Repression of minorities
• Political competition Power monopoly
• Rule of law Arbitrary rule (rule by
  law)

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• Democratic Nondemocratic
• Government Government
• Political equality Political inequality
• Majority rule Elite rule
• Popular sovereignty Tyranny, oligarchy
• Political liberty Political subjugation
• Minority rights Repression of minorities
• Political competition Power monopoly
• Rule of law Arbitrary rule

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The Islamic Republic of Iran
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Governmental System

• A theocracy (rule by clerics) with some
  concessions to democracy
• principle of jurists guardianship (jurist
  legal scholar steeped in Islamic religious law)
• Supreme (religious) Leader Ayatollah Ali
  Khameini
• has wide-ranging powers, link between three
  branches of govt, can dismiss President,
  controls armed forces, judiciary, media
• all laws must conform to sharia and clergy are
  ultimate interpreters

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Iranian Governmental System

Majles (290 deputies, 4-yr terms)
President (4-yr term)
Head of Judiciary
Public Courts
Cabinet
Revolutionary Courts
Special Clerical Court
Bureaucracy
People
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Iranian Governmental System
Supreme Leader

Assembly of Religious Experts (86, 8-yr terms)
Military
Council of Guardians
Revolutionary Guard
Expediency Council
President (4-yr term)
Head of Judiciary
Majles (290 deputies, 4-yr terms)
Public Courts
Cabinet
Revolutionary Courts
Special Clerical Court
Bureaucracy
People
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Political Equality?

• Council of Guardians vets all political
  candidates
• barred 2000 candidates from contesting 2004
  parliamentary elections (85 of which were
  reformists in current parliament)
• Women may vote, run for office, but many do not
  exercise these rights
• Civic organizations allowed as long as they do
  not question basis of the Islamic Republic
  (guided democracy)

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Majority Rule?

• Iranians cannot change their government
  democratically
• Supreme Leader appointed for life
• Council of Guardians not elected

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Popular Sovereignty?

• Unelected Council of Guardians approves all
  legislation passed by parliament
• regularly vetoes legislation
• Local elections introduced in 1999
• overwhelming support for reformers

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Political Liberty?

• Citizens (esp. dissidents), MPs subjected to
  arbitrary arrest and detention
• Freedom of expression is limited, media
  controlled
• Freedom of association limited
• public demonstrations that violate principles of
  Islam prohibited
• Religious freedom limited (majority us Shia
  muslim)
• Morals police practice intimidation

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Minority Rights?

• Additional seats in Majles are reserved for
  non-Muslim deputies
• religious minorities may practice their faith but
  cannot hold senior govt positions, face
  restrictions in education, property ownership
• Bahais face official discrimination
• Ethnic minorities permitted to establish
  associations

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Political Competition?

• No competition for most powerful posts in govt
  (Council of Guardians, Supreme Leader)
• Competition for parliamentary seats (reform
  candidates) restricted

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Rule of Law?

• Judiciary is not independent
• Supreme Leader appoints Chief Justice, who then
  appoints other judges
• Political and sensitive cases are tried in the
  Revolutionary Courts (due process often ignored)