I attached two peers’ discussion posts based on the questions of Comparative Politics of the Middle East, Iran.
It is two peer responses based on two peers’ discussion posts. Responses should be with a minimum of 150 words each.
Your responses to peers must be critical. Your answer is not considered critical if you ONLY:
Agree with them and repeat their statements
Ask them too many questions
While you can agree with your peers on some points and seek further clarification, you must focus on critical responses that may incorporate elements such as:
Are they using the syllabus readings as the main source to answer questions (as opposed to using Wikipedia or unreliable sources)?
Are they citing their references properly (in-text and in the reference section)?
Are their responses biased or normative? For instance, claiming that “X is a bad country because I hate the leaders.”
Are they properly using data to support their argument?
Two Peers’ discussions are based on the following questions:
Discussion Questions:
What was the impact of the 1953 coup that reinstated Mohammad Reza Shah to power, and what were the consequences of his subsequent policies on political opposition?
In what ways did the Iranian Revolution differ from many other 20th-century revolutions?
How did the outcome of the revolution differ from the goals of many who participated in it?
What are some of the tensions within Iran’s constitution?
How would you characterize the level of democracy within Iran’s institutional framework?
What are the most and least democratic aspects of the Iranian system in practice?
In what ways are Iran’s elections undemocratic, despite having multiple candidates and high voter turnout?
Which segments of Iranian society are generally the most alienated from the theocratic basis of state legitimacy?
How have competing motivations of national interest and ideological fervor shaped Iran’s post-revolution foreign policy?
Between national interest and ideological fervor, which has exerted a stronger influence? Provide examples to support your view.
Why is Iran’s demographic profile so crucial to its economic and political future?
How did Iran support Polish refugees during World War II, and what challenges did the refugees face upon arrival? How did the Iranian government and society respond to their needs? Lastly, what implications does this historical example hold for today’s influx of refugees worldwide?
What recent domestic and international developments have occurred in Iran, and how do they influence the country’s future trajectory? Please provide a list of several pertinent events.
Use citations from these only:
Lust, Chapter 4
Lust, Chapter on Iran
Andrew F. March, “Political Islam: Theory,” Annual Review of Political Science 18 (2015): 103-123.
Polish refugees in Iran during
World War II
