Iran Divided

The Historical Roots of Iranian Debates on Identity, Culture, and Governance in the Twenty-First Century

Iranian politics after the revolution have been marked by sharp ideological divisions within the Islamic ranks. Many of the divisions and power struggles date back to the Shah’s era and the ideologically-diverse coalition formed against the Pahlavi system. In fact, two opposed visions of an Islamic society and polity, roughly representing the left-right split within the anti-Shah coalition, have existed from the very beginning of the Islamic Republic. Both have been competing to determine the character and direction of the Republic. This text explains all such factors and their relevance to Iran today. It discusses the historical roots of Iran’s current divisions and debates. It identifies major issues, notably questions related to Iran versus Islam, secularism versus religion, constitutionalism versus Islamic government, and the process that led to these divides. It also deals with the unfolding of politics and discourses in the Islamic republic regarding the fundamental issues of identity, culture, and governance.