World Citizen: Inside Iran’s Peculiar Democracy

World Citizen: Inside Iran’s Peculiar Democracy

News that former Iranian President Mohammed Khatami, hailed as a reformer, would challenge sitting hard-line president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, in upcoming elections proved oddly short-lived. Just five weeks after sparking jubilation among his supporters by proclaiming his candidacy, the 65-year-old cleric poured cold water on the celebrations with the announcement that he had decided to withdraw, opening a minuscule new window into the mysterious machinations of Iran's unique brand of theocratic democracy.

Iranians, and the rest of the world, are eagerly awaiting the outcome of the June voting to see if Ahmadinejad will manage to stay in power. The electoral process in Iran, however, is unlike any in the world. For starters, candidates must receive approval to stand for election from the conservative Council of Guardians.

That's no mere formality. The unelected Council is charged with ensuring that all candidates meet conditions that include having the right values and supporting the country's Islamic system of government. Hundreds of candidates are routinely barred from running. In 2005, the council disqualified almost all the liberal candidates. Candidates also contend with a system that provides strong media support to the choice of the religious establishment. Other advantages accrue to those particularly favored by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, the most powerful man in Iran.

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