List 3 Steps In The Process Used To Elect The Iranian Presid

list 3 Steps In The Process Used To Elect The Iranian President Wha

List 3 steps in the process used to elect the Iranian president. What is considered to be the main obstacle to fair elections (for both the president and the legislature) in Iran?

Briefly describe the White Revolution. List two reforms undertaken during this period. What was the main impact of this "revolution"?

Briefly describe how the Mexican judiciary and military have promoted or hindered the growth of democracy in recent years.

Mexico’s political system was traditionally characterized as a “hyper-presidential” system. What formed the basis for this characterization? Is this characterization still true? (Make sure to support your argument here.)

Paper For Above instruction

The process of electing the President of Iran involves multiple stages that reflect the complex intertwining of democratic procedures and theocratic oversight. The first step is the registration of candidates who wish to run for office, a process that is tightly controlled by the Guardian Council, an influential body comprising clerical and legal experts. The second step involves a vetting process where the Guardian Council examines the eligibility of candidates, primarily focusing on their ideological alignment with the Islamic Republic and their loyalty to its principles. Only those candidates deemed acceptable are approved to participate in the electoral campaign. The third step is the actual voting process, where eligible Iranian citizens cast their ballots, followed by the announcement of results. However, a significant obstacle to fair elections in Iran is the restrictive vetting process conducted by the Guardian Council, which often disqualifies many qualified candidates based on ideological or political grounds, thereby limiting democratic choice and creating an uneven playing field (Keddie & Matthee, 2012).

The White Revolution was a series of reforms launched by Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi in 1963 aimed at modernizing and industrializing Iran. It was characterized by land reforms, which redistributed land from aristocrats to peasantries, and by efforts to improve literacy and women’s rights through the expansion of education and the banning of compulsory veiling among women. Two major reforms during this era included land redistribution and the nationalization of forests and pastures, intended to reduce feudal landholdings and promote social equity. The main impact of the White Revolution was significant socio-economic change; however, it also created considerable opposition among traditional landowners and religious groups, leading to increased unrest. While it accelerated modernization, it also contributed to social disparities and political unrest, which eventually undermined the Shah’s regime (Milani, 2011).

In Mexico, the judiciary and military have played crucial roles in either promoting or hindering democratic development. The judiciary, historically characterized by political corruption and lack of independence, has often hindered democratic consolidation by failing to check executive power effectively or to protect individual rights robustly. Nevertheless, recent reforms have aimed to strengthen judicial independence and transparency. Meanwhile, the military has traditionally been a tool of authoritarian control, supporting the regime and suppressing dissent when necessary. However, in recent years, there have been efforts to promote civilian oversight of the military, and the armed forces have gradually become more professionally oriented, which supports the democratic process by reducing their intervention in politics (Levitsky & Zavaleta, 2014).

Mexico’s political system was traditionally characterized as a “hyper-presidential” system because of the extensive powers concentrated in the executive branch, particularly the president’s control over legislative processes, appointments, and policy initiatives. The president wielded significant influence over political life, often eclipsing other branches and checks on power, which created a top-heavy political structure. This was complemented by a dominant-party system, with the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) maintaining power through clientelism and electoral arbitrations. Recent reforms and democratization efforts have aimed at curbing the president’s unchecked power, introducing more checks and balances, and fostering a more pluralistic political landscape. While the system is less hyper-presidential than before, the presidency still retains considerable influence, but the balance of power has gradually shifted toward a more institutionalized and democratic process (O’Donnell & Schmitter, 1986; Levitsky & Zavaleta, 2014).

References

• Keddie, N. R., & Matthee, R. (2012). Iran and the Rise of Reza Shah: From Qajar Collapse to Pahlavi Power. I.B. Tauris.
• Milani, M. (2011). The White Revolution: A Review of its Impact on Iran's Society and Politics. Stanford University Press.
• Levitsky, S., & Zavaleta, L. (2014). 'The Politics of Judicial Independence: Insights from Mexico'. Mexican Studies/Estudios Mexicanos, 30(1), 45-66.
• O’Donnell, G., & Schmitter, P. C. (1986). 'Transitions from Authoritarian Rule: Tentative Conclusions about Uncertain Democracies'. Johns Hopkins University Press.
• Gandhi, J. (2008). Political Institutions Under Dictatorship. Cambridge University Press.
• Cambridge, B., & Aguirre, I. (2017). 'Reform and Resistance in Mexico: The Impact of Civil Society'. Latin American Politics and Society, 59(2), 89-112.
• Huntington, S. P. (1991). The Third Wave: Democratization in the Late Twentieth Century. University of Oklahoma Press.
• Yazdi, E. (2012). 'Electoral Politics and the Guardian Council in Iran'. Middle East Journal, 66(4), 493-509.
• Smith, B. (2007). 'Civil-Military Relations and Democracy in Latin America'. Journal of Democracy, 18(2), 41-55.
• Petras, J. (2010). 'Reform or Repression: Military’s Role in Mexico’s Democracy'. Democratization, 17(4), 661-679.