Iran Test Flashcards
In contrast to most other states in the Middle East, Iranians in general have a stronger
Sense of nationalism
Conservative and reform forces at work in modern day Iran are based on the two conflicting ideas of
Sovereignty of the people v. Rule by clerics
In contrast to Mexico, the political history of Iran does not include
An era in which the country lost its independence to European imperialists
In contrast to the Safavids, the Qajars could not base the legitimacy of their government on
Blood ties to the Twelve Imams
The constitution of 1906 included all of the following features EXCEPT:
No separation of powers
During the 1950s, Muhammad Mossadeq gained support from many Iranians by emphasizing
Iranian nationalism
Iran became a tentirer state under Pahlavis when most of its income came from
Exporting oil and leading oil fields to foreign countries
An important impact of the shah’s White Revolution was that it
Secularized the society
Unlike the Russian and Chinese Revolutions of the 20th century, Iran’s Revolution of 1979 was almost completely based on
Religion
The “intolerable gap” illustrated in the chart above was created in Iran in 1979 when
Oil prices decreased and consumer prices increased
The Ayatollah Khomeini interpreted jurist’s guardianship to mean that the clergy
Has authority over the entire Shia community
The constitution of 1979 was created by a directly elected 73-man assembly of clerics called the
Assembly of Religious Experts
The aim of both the Iranian Cultural Revolution and the Chinese Cultural Revolution was to
Purify the country
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s white coup was meant to
Eliminate the reformists
The largest single ethnic group in Iran is
Persian
Which of the following groups is most likely to be critical of the current regime in Iran?
Middle and upper middle class
Clergy who favor liberal economic policies that encourage foreign trade, free markets, and direct foreign investment are called
Pragmatic conservatives
The “Tehran spring” under the presidency of Muhammad Khatami (1997-2005) is best described as a time of
Cautious political liberalization
The largest protests in recent Iranian history occurred after
The 2009 election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as president
Compared to China and Mexico, women in Iran are
Less equally represented in the legislature
Unlike the party system in Mexico, Iran’s party system
Has a number of parties that have been banned but are still active
Elections to the Majles and the presidency are conducted according to
Plurality, with two rounds so that winners will get a majority
Which type of candidate for elected office has the Guardian Council most often bound?
Reformist
Which of the following pairs of countries are unitary states?
Iran and China
Which of the following government officials/institutions most directly claim jurist’s guardianship?
The Guardian Council, the Assembly of Religious Experts, and the Supreme Leader
The responsibility to referee disputes between the Guardian Council and the Majles lies primarily with the
Expediency Council
Which of the following is directly elected by Iranian citizens?
Representatives to the Majles
PEMEX in Mexico and the Foundation for the Oppressed and Disabled in Iran are both
Para-statals
Which of the following accurately compares sharia and qanun in Iran?
Unlike sharia, qanun has no sacred basis, but instead is a body of statutes passed by the Majles
Which of the following accurately compares the Chinese military to the Iranian military?
The military in both countries actively participates in policy making
