How democratic is Iran's election process?

[Connery]

"Iranian citizens ages 18 and over, male and female, can vote for the president, but only an Iranian-born male Shiite can run for president, said Alex Vatanka of the Washington-based Middle East Institute.

Those who want to stand have to be approved by Iran's Guardian Council, a non-elected body made up of six clerics and six lawyers operating under the oversight of the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. That means only candidates who have Khamenei's blessing can really contest the election, said Vatanka, making it "very much a limited, controlled process." Khamenei "has four significant tools to weaken democratic institutions," and over time he has used them to sap the power of the president and parliament, said Mehdi Khalaji, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

First, the judiciary are accountable to him and listen only to him, he said. The country's intelligence apparatus also answers to the Supreme Leader, as does Iran's military; he is commander-in-chief. Khamenei also pulls the strings when it comes to state-run TV and radio, allowing him to control the flow of information. Each election, he makes sure that all those who may cause problems for him or challenge his authority won't be qualified," Khalaji said, which means the outcome is effectively "pre-set."

What's at stake in Iran's presidential election? - CNN.com


One definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results. This type of society feeds upon itself and thwarts any type of societal growth.


This appears to be a continuation of 2009 when, "a reform candidate of the so-called Green Movement got Iranians fired up ahead of the 2009 election. Young people fed up with the restrictive and intrusive dictates of the clerics and their security forces mobilized the country, only to see their hopes brutally dashed. Just hours after the polls closed, the regime called the election for Ahmadinejad, sending millions of outraged Iranians into the street to protest what had all the markings of a stolen election.

The rigged election was followed by a harsh campaign of repression that snuffed out the opposition's ability to function. The main figures of the day - candidates Mir Hossein Mousavi, his wife, Zahra Rahnavard, and candidate Mehdi Karroubi - remain under house arrest. Thousands have fled to exile, and scores of journalists are in prison, as are large numbers of reformist activists."
Iran's democracy charade


The Iranian people appear want to live in a world where they can have freedoms, make choices and have a chance for personal growth and prosperity. Regimes have been toppled over these types of controls and attempts to thwart the spirit of it's people.

 

[skye]

Sadly there is no way that these are free and fair elections in Iran.The Iranian regime can only practice a deceiving kind of democracy at best.

 

[Connery]

Sadly there is no way that these are free and fair elections in Iran.The Iranian regime can only practice a deceiving kind of democracy at best.

I agree, the following concisely describes what Iran is and is not, "Political scientists categorize the Islamic Republic of Iran as an “electoral authoritarian” regime of a new sort. They put it in the same basket as Hugo Chávez’s Venezuela or Vladimir Putin’s Russia. By this view, Iran is fundamentally an authoritarian regime run by a small circle of clerics and military officials who use elections to legitimate themselves...Unfortunately, Iranians may never get to make the choice for themselves. The clerical-military clique currently exercising power is likely to drag Iran into conflict with other countries in the region. This could easily consolidate its legitimacy and power. Let us hope that the country’s internal forces push for an evolution of the political system towards genuine rule of law and democracy first. "
Francis Fukuyama: Iranian constitution democratic at heart - WSJ.com

Puppets and puppeteers...

 

[RoccoR]

Connery, et al,

While speaking of Iran, it is not a democracy; not because of how they pick the President (which is usually a Constitutional issue), but because of how the law resides.

"Iranian citizens ages 18 and over, male and female, can vote for the president, but only an Iranian-born male Shiite can run for president, said Alex Vatanka of the Washington-based Middle East Institute.

Those who want to stand have to be approved by Iran's Guardian Council, a non-elected body made up of six clerics and six lawyers operating under the oversight of the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. That means only candidates who have Khamenei's blessing can really contest the election, said Vatanka, making it "very much a limited, controlled process." Khamenei "has four significant tools to weaken democratic institutions," and over time he has used them to sap the power of the president and parliament, said Mehdi Khalaji, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

First, the judiciary are accountable to him and listen only to him, he said. The country's intelligence apparatus also answers to the Supreme Leader, as does Iran's military; he is commander-in-chief. Khamenei also pulls the strings when it comes to state-run TV and radio, allowing him to control the flow of information. Each election, he makes sure that all those who may cause problems for him or challenge his authority won't be qualified," Khalaji said, which means the outcome is effectively "pre-set."

One definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results. This type of society feeds upon itself and thwarts any type of societal growth.

This appears to be a continuation of 2009 when, "a reform candidate of the so-called Green Movement got Iranians fired up ahead of the 2009 election. Young people fed up with the restrictive and intrusive dictates of the clerics and their security forces mobilized the country, only to see their hopes brutally dashed. Just hours after the polls closed, the regime called the election for Ahmadinejad, sending millions of outraged Iranians into the street to protest what had all the markings of a stolen election.

The rigged election was followed by a harsh campaign of repression that snuffed out the opposition's ability to function. The main figures of the day - candidates Mir Hossein Mousavi, his wife, Zahra Rahnavard, and candidate Mehdi Karroubi - remain under house arrest. Thousands have fled to exile, and scores of journalists are in prison, as are large numbers of reformist activists."

The Iranian people appear want to live in a world where they can have freedoms, make choices and have a chance for personal growth and prosperity. Regimes have been toppled over these types of controls and attempts to thwart the spirit of it's people.

(COMMENT)

Iran is a Totalitarian Theocracy, which has some characteristics of Oligarchy or Plutocracy.

It is not democratic because the law and the government do not rest in the hands of the people. It is a "theocracy' because the Supreme Leader (Ayatollah Ali Hosseini Khamenei) makes the religious claim to be an authority on behalf of a Koran (set of religious ideas), and act as an direct agents of a Supreme Being; the source of the rules.

It is Totalitarian Theocracy because the Supreme Leader is not elected by popular vote or a representative governmental election, but instead is selected by the Assembly of Experts in Islamic Scholarship, and may use force to maintain control thereafter.

• In a democracy the leadership is elected by the popular vote of the people. The power of government is retained by the people.
  
• In a Republic the leadership is exercised by elected representatives, not the people themselves. The people do not always have the vote on legislation and the formulation of laws. The US is a republic (not a democracy). It is possible in the US to have the popular vote, and loose to the Electoral College count. Congress votes on laws and may not be held accountable for the vote or campaign promise. Congress determines their own pay, allowances, and benefits; without regards to the desires of the electorate.

Iran consists of rule by an elite group (deliberative body of Mujtahids or Clerics) who rule in their own best interests under Koranic justification. Only certain members of Iranian society have a voice in the Mujtahids. Thus, comes the characteristics of Oligarchy or Plutocracy.​

Anyway, that is my take on the Iranian Government.

Most Respectfully,
R

 

[Connery]

Connery, et al,

While speaking of Iran, it is not a democracy; not because of how they pick the President (which is usually a Constitutional issue), but because of how the law resides.

"Iranian citizens ages 18 and over, male and female, can vote for the president, but only an Iranian-born male Shiite can run for president, said Alex Vatanka of the Washington-based Middle East Institute.

Those who want to stand have to be approved by Iran's Guardian Council, a non-elected body made up of six clerics and six lawyers operating under the oversight of the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. That means only candidates who have Khamenei's blessing can really contest the election, said Vatanka, making it "very much a limited, controlled process." Khamenei "has four significant tools to weaken democratic institutions," and over time he has used them to sap the power of the president and parliament, said Mehdi Khalaji, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

First, the judiciary are accountable to him and listen only to him, he said. The country's intelligence apparatus also answers to the Supreme Leader, as does Iran's military; he is commander-in-chief. Khamenei also pulls the strings when it comes to state-run TV and radio, allowing him to control the flow of information. Each election, he makes sure that all those who may cause problems for him or challenge his authority won't be qualified," Khalaji said, which means the outcome is effectively "pre-set."

One definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results. This type of society feeds upon itself and thwarts any type of societal growth.

This appears to be a continuation of 2009 when, "a reform candidate of the so-called Green Movement got Iranians fired up ahead of the 2009 election. Young people fed up with the restrictive and intrusive dictates of the clerics and their security forces mobilized the country, only to see their hopes brutally dashed. Just hours after the polls closed, the regime called the election for Ahmadinejad, sending millions of outraged Iranians into the street to protest what had all the markings of a stolen election.

The rigged election was followed by a harsh campaign of repression that snuffed out the opposition's ability to function. The main figures of the day - candidates Mir Hossein Mousavi, his wife, Zahra Rahnavard, and candidate Mehdi Karroubi - remain under house arrest. Thousands have fled to exile, and scores of journalists are in prison, as are large numbers of reformist activists."

The Iranian people appear want to live in a world where they can have freedoms, make choices and have a chance for personal growth and prosperity. Regimes have been toppled over these types of controls and attempts to thwart the spirit of it's people.

(COMMENT)

Iran is a Totalitarian Theocracy, which has some characteristics of Oligarchy or Plutocracy.

It is not democratic because the law and the government do not rest in the hands of the people. It is a "theocracy' because the Supreme Leader (Ayatollah Ali Hosseini Khamenei) makes the religious claim to be an authority on behalf of a Koran (set of religious ideas), and act as an direct agents of a Supreme Being; the source of the rules.

It is Totalitarian Theocracy because the Supreme Leader is not elected by popular vote or a representative governmental election, but instead is selected by the Assembly of Experts in Islamic Scholarship, and may use force to maintain control thereafter.

• In a democracy the leadership is elected by the popular vote of the people. The power of government is retained by the people.
  
• In a Republic the leadership is exercised by elected representatives, not the people themselves. The people do not always have the vote on legislation and the formulation of laws. The US is a republic (not a democracy). It is possible in the US to have the popular vote, and loose to the Electoral College count. Congress votes on laws and may not be held accountable for the vote or campaign promise. Congress determines their own pay, allowances, and benefits; without regards to the desires of the electorate.

Iran consists of rule by an elite group (deliberative body of Mujtahids or Clerics) who rule in their own best interests under Koranic justification. Only certain members of Iranian society have a voice in the Mujtahids. Thus, comes the characteristics of Oligarchy or Plutocracy.​

Anyway, that is my take on the Iranian Government.

Most Respectfully,
R

Nice post Rocco....I do not believe they are a democracy by any means it is Iran who espouses that idea, albeit in a very convoluted manner. Indeed, Khamenei and the IRGC say they favor no candidate, behind the scenes the security apparatus may be gearing up again to sway Iran's tightly constrained version of democracy and ensure the election of a loyal, obedient hardliner.

Khamenei Wants No One to Jolt His Power in Iran Vote

 

[BecauseIKnow]

Hey, Connery, so now that we know the moderate candidate is leading the race, the election was democratic and fair and square, right?

Of course it's your guy and you're happy with the results so I'm sure all is cool with you now.

If it had not been your choice, you'd still go on claiming its an un democratic process.

But what do you expect from a closet hypocrite.

 

[Roudy]

"Iranian citizens ages 18 and over, male and female, can vote for the president, but only an Iranian-born male Shiite can run for president, said Alex Vatanka of the Washington-based Middle East Institute.

Those who want to stand have to be approved by Iran's Guardian Council, a non-elected body made up of six clerics and six lawyers operating under the oversight of the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. That means only candidates who have Khamenei's blessing can really contest the election, said Vatanka, making it "very much a limited, controlled process." Khamenei "has four significant tools to weaken democratic institutions," and over time he has used them to sap the power of the president and parliament, said Mehdi Khalaji, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

First, the judiciary are accountable to him and listen only to him, he said. The country's intelligence apparatus also answers to the Supreme Leader, as does Iran's military; he is commander-in-chief. Khamenei also pulls the strings when it comes to state-run TV and radio, allowing him to control the flow of information. Each election, he makes sure that all those who may cause problems for him or challenge his authority won't be qualified," Khalaji said, which means the outcome is effectively "pre-set."

What's at stake in Iran's presidential election? - CNN.com


One definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results. This type of society feeds upon itself and thwarts any type of societal growth.


This appears to be a continuation of 2009 when, "a reform candidate of the so-called Green Movement got Iranians fired up ahead of the 2009 election. Young people fed up with the restrictive and intrusive dictates of the clerics and their security forces mobilized the country, only to see their hopes brutally dashed. Just hours after the polls closed, the regime called the election for Ahmadinejad, sending millions of outraged Iranians into the street to protest what had all the markings of a stolen election.

The rigged election was followed by a harsh campaign of repression that snuffed out the opposition's ability to function. The main figures of the day - candidates Mir Hossein Mousavi, his wife, Zahra Rahnavard, and candidate Mehdi Karroubi - remain under house arrest. Thousands have fled to exile, and scores of journalists are in prison, as are large numbers of reformist activists."
Iran's democracy charade


The Iranian people appear want to live in a world where they can have freedoms, make choices and have a chance for personal growth and prosperity. Regimes have been toppled over these types of controls and attempts to thwart the spirit of it's people.

Its not even close. The grand ayatollah aka Supreme Leader eliminates all those candidates whom he thinks are not in line, or will not be obedient to him. So we're left with 5 candidates who are about the same but look different and their campaigns are set up to appeal to different demographics.

This election is a total farce. The Mullahs closed down the schools and universities about two months prior to the elections so the students and youth did not have a place to unite and organize for protests. Next they put all the controversial writers and political figures in jail or house arrest to squash any possibility of dissent. Let alone hundreds of others that have been tortured, raped, or executed in advance.

You gotta hand it to them, they know how to practice Islamic fascism as an art form, and this whole thing was choreographed to minimize any possibility of protest or unrest, using fear and intimidation.

 

[skye]

The reality is that nothing will change in Iran with this new boss which is the same as the old boss.

I do wish the people of Iran, the youth in Iran all the best but unfortunately the real leadership in Iran is Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his mullahs.... and they are staying put ...

and all along, the centrifuges turn and turn....

 

[Connery]

Hey, Connery, so now that we know the moderate candidate is leading the race, the election was democratic and fair and square, right?

Of course it's your guy and you're happy with the results so I'm sure all is cool with you now.

If it had not been your choice, you'd still go on claiming its an un democratic process.

But what do you expect from a closet hypocrite.

hmmmm.....Unfortunately it does not matter who wins, the power is with the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Form over substance.....

 

[Politico]

The President of Iran is irrelevant.

 

[waltky]

Politico wrote: The President of Iran is irrelevant.

True...

... it is becoming ever apparent that the Republican Guard...

... is the real power behind the throne.

Hopefully the RG and the Ayatollah and his mullahs...

... will come to odds with each other.

 

[CountCritso]

What has been said in this thread is representative of a perspective that is often repeated in various U.S media sources and that is common in the United States. Truth be told, there's not a whole lot of variety in American views on other countries' systems of government. But is this perspective of Iranian government common around the world?

I am going to make the case that the government is not completely non-democratic.

Note Article 1 of the Iranian constitution:

The form of government of Iran is that of an Islamic Republic, endorsed by the people of Iran on the basis of their longstanding belief in the sovereignty of truth and Qur'anic justice, in the referendum of Farwardin 9 and 10 in the year 1358 of the solar Islamic calendar

Iran's government derives it's legitimacy from two authorities: the Quran (religion) and the people.

Is it a complete theocracy? You can't say so - the President controls the government (the ministries). Religious authorities have not taken over and governed based solely on religion; they recognize that the people have some authority. That's why there is friction sometimes between the government, parliament, and the religious authorities. Is it a democracy? No. A lot of vestiges of power are controlled by clerics.

Direct popular vote is used to elect the Parliament, the President, and the Assembly of Experts.

Non-elected bodies include the Supreme Leader, the Judiciary, the Guardian Council (half of which is chosen by an elected parliament).

The Guardian council vets candidates for the presidency, parliament, and writes a test for candidacy for the Assembly of Experts. It can also invalidate laws for not conforming to religion or the constitution. Note, however, that the Guardian Council cannot write laws or proactively govern.

The Supreme Leader controls the military, religion, and appoints the head of the judiciary and television and radio. However, he does not control the government and he does not write laws. He does have the highest religious authority and can use religion as an excuse to control aspects of temporal law by for exmple issuing a fatwa, but temporal governance and legislation is supposed to be in the hands of the president and parliament.

Moreover, the Supreme Leader can be fired and reappointed by the Assembly of Experts. The Assembly of Experts is directly elected by the people; the only vetting of that body is an exam.

The president, restricted as he is, is still a big deal. He controls a large amount of executive power and has a lot of executive authority. He is the face of the nation. He is still elected and there are always multiple candidates. Reform candidates sometimes break through, and there are often divisions among the candidates. In order to be elected, the candidates have to differentiate themselves and appeal and make promises to the people. The same goes for parliament.

Half the Guardian council is chosen by the elected body of Parliament.

There has not been evidence of wide-spread tampering of elections.

It's a convulsed system, resistant to change, but that does not mean that change is an impossibility. Religious authorities have an edge over temporal authorities but that does not mean that temporal authorities nor democracy do not have a role, do not have significant power, and are not able to use their power to restrict the influence of religious authorities.

While it might not look like the American form of democracy, and religious vetting and interference might offend American sensibilities, you cannot say that democracy does not play it's role in Iranian politics.

 

[Roudy]

Iran's government derives it's legitimacy from two authorities: the Quran (religion) and the people.

is that why over 90% of Iranians want this barbaric regime removed? Iran's leaders are no different than any other goose-stepping totalitarian regimes that claim to have the people and / or religion on their sides.

Moreover, the Supreme Leader can be fired and reappointed by the Assembly of Experts.

Hah?! Where do you get your bullshit from? The Supreme Leader is more powerful than the Pope was during the Crusades. He has power and final say over everything and anything he wants. Including who gets to be a candidate for president. He does not get involved in the day to day mundane govt activities, and only steps in on the big issues. And, he cannot be replaced unless by death. How many "Supreme Leaders" has Iran had since the beginning of the Islamic revolution, lightbulb? That's right, TWO, Khomeini, and after he died, his successor now Khamenei.

 

[CountCritso]

Iran's government derives it's legitimacy from two authorities: the Quran (religion) and the people.

is that why over 90% of Iranians want this barbaric regime removed?

That's simply not the case.

hxxp://www[.]presstv.com/detail/2013/05/02/301364/stupidities-of-us-government-about-iran/
hxxp://mrzine[.]monthlyreview.org/2008/iran120408.html
hxxp://www[.]worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/articles/brmiddleeastnafricara/652.php
hxxp://www[.]iranaffairs.com/iran_affairs/2011/11/iranians-do-support-their-government.html
hxxp://www[.]gallup.com/poll/160358/iranians-feel-bite-sanctions-blame-not-own-leaders.aspx
hxxp://www[.]iar-gwu.org/node/474

 

[Connery]

Iran's government derives it's legitimacy from two authorities: the Quran (religion) and the people.

is that why over 90% of Iranians want this barbaric regime removed?

That's simply not the case.

hxxp://www[.]presstv.com/detail/2013/05/02/301364/stupidities-of-us-government-about-iran/
hxxp://mrzine[.]monthlyreview.org/2008/iran120408.html
hxxp://www[.]worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/articles/brmiddleeastnafricara/652.php
hxxp://www[.]iranaffairs.com/iran_affairs/2011/11/iranians-do-support-their-government.html
hxxp://www[.]gallup.com/poll/160358/iranians-feel-bite-sanctions-blame-not-own-leaders.aspx
hxxp://www[.]iar-gwu.org/node/474

Of course it is....in 2011/2012 a study was conducted "circumventing Iran's "electronic curtain" and asking questions which constituted an accurate representative sample of Iranian society, including all of Iran's 31 provinces as well as a representative distribution of all ethnic groups, ages and levels of education.

An analysis of the Iranian sample showed that alongside conservative values, such as conformity and tradition, Iranian society is characterized by strong support for pro-liberal values such as a belief in the importance of self-direction and benevolence. For example, 94% of the respondents identified with the sentence "freedom to choose what he does is important to him," and 71% of the respondents identified with the sentence "being tolerant toward all kinds of people and groups is important to him."

[The] findings demonstrate that Iranian society as a whole is characterized by a pro-liberal value structure that is deeply at odds with the fundamentalist regime. This presents considerable potential for regime change in Iran and for the development of liberal democracy.
Yuval Porat: Iranians Have Democratic Values - WSJ.com

The heart wants what the heart wants and there is no amount of oppression which will ever quell the human spirit.

 

[Roudy]

Iran's government derives it's legitimacy from two authorities: the Quran (religion) and the people.

is that why over 90% of Iranians want this barbaric regime removed?

That's simply not the case.

hxxp://www[.]presstv.com/detail/2013/05/02/301364/stupidities-of-us-government-about-iran/
hxxp://mrzine[.]monthlyreview.org/2008/iran120408.html
hxxp://www[.]worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/articles/brmiddleeastnafricara/652.php
hxxp://www[.]iranaffairs.com/iran_affairs/2011/11/iranians-do-support-their-government.html
hxxp://www[.]gallup.com/poll/160358/iranians-feel-bite-sanctions-blame-not-own-leaders.aspx
hxxp://www[.]iar-gwu.org/node/474

PressTV? That's the propaganda arm of the Iranian govt, it's like quoting North Korean govt., or Al queda central.

Get a life dude. You have no idea what is happening in Iran.

 

[Roudy]

is that why over 90% of Iranians want this barbaric regime removed?

That's simply not the case.

hxxp://www[.]presstv.com/detail/2013/05/02/301364/stupidities-of-us-government-about-iran/
hxxp://mrzine[.]monthlyreview.org/2008/iran120408.html
hxxp://www[.]worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/articles/brmiddleeastnafricara/652.php
hxxp://www[.]iranaffairs.com/iran_affairs/2011/11/iranians-do-support-their-government.html
hxxp://www[.]gallup.com/poll/160358/iranians-feel-bite-sanctions-blame-not-own-leaders.aspx
hxxp://www[.]iar-gwu.org/node/474

Of course it is....in 2011/2012 a study was conducted "circumventing Iran's "electronic curtain" and asking questions which constituted an accurate representative sample of Iranian society, including all of Iran's 31 provinces as well as a representative distribution of all ethnic groups, ages and levels of education.

An analysis of the Iranian sample showed that alongside conservative values, such as conformity and tradition, Iranian society is characterized by strong support for pro-liberal values such as a belief in the importance of self-direction and benevolence. For example, 94% of the respondents identified with the sentence "freedom to choose what he does is important to him," and 71% of the respondents identified with the sentence "being tolerant toward all kinds of people and groups is important to him."

[The] findings demonstrate that Iranian society as a whole is characterized by a pro-liberal value structure that is deeply at odds with the fundamentalist regime. This presents considerable potential for regime change in Iran and for the development of liberal democracy.
Yuval Porat: Iranians Have Democratic Values - WSJ.com

The heart wants what the heart wants and there is no amount of oppression which will ever quell the human spirit.

The reason the people won't rise up again is that it's no longer worth it to them. They don't stand a chance, plus, the last time they did it, our president turned his back on them. The tales of torture and executions coming out if Iran are so horrific, one cannot even describe them. Let's not forget, the Islamist Republic of Iran are the teachers of Assad and Hezbollah in how to be ruthless and barbaric so that nobody dares say a thing.

 

[CountCritso]

is that why over 90% of Iranians want this barbaric regime removed?

That's simply not the case.

hxxp://www[.]presstv.com/detail/2013/05/02/301364/stupidities-of-us-government-about-iran/
hxxp://mrzine[.]monthlyreview.org/2008/iran120408.html
hxxp://www[.]worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/articles/brmiddleeastnafricara/652.php
hxxp://www[.]iranaffairs.com/iran_affairs/2011/11/iranians-do-support-their-government.html
hxxp://www[.]gallup.com/poll/160358/iranians-feel-bite-sanctions-blame-not-own-leaders.aspx
hxxp://www[.]iar-gwu.org/node/474

PressTV? That's the propaganda arm of the Iranian govt, it's like quoting North Korean govt., or Al queda central.

Get a life dude. You have no idea what is happening in Iran.

I also quoted Gallup. But you wish to promote your own narrative...alas.

 

[CountCritso]

is that why over 90% of Iranians want this barbaric regime removed?

That's simply not the case.

hxxp://www[.]presstv.com/detail/2013/05/02/301364/stupidities-of-us-government-about-iran/
hxxp://mrzine[.]monthlyreview.org/2008/iran120408.html
hxxp://www[.]worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/articles/brmiddleeastnafricara/652.php
hxxp://www[.]iranaffairs.com/iran_affairs/2011/11/iranians-do-support-their-government.html
hxxp://www[.]gallup.com/poll/160358/iranians-feel-bite-sanctions-blame-not-own-leaders.aspx
hxxp://www[.]iar-gwu.org/node/474

Of course it is....in 2011/2012 a study was conducted "circumventing Iran's "electronic curtain" and asking questions which constituted an accurate representative sample of Iranian society, including all of Iran's 31 provinces as well as a representative distribution of all ethnic groups, ages and levels of education.

An analysis of the Iranian sample showed that alongside conservative values, such as conformity and tradition, Iranian society is characterized by strong support for pro-liberal values such as a belief in the importance of self-direction and benevolence. For example, 94% of the respondents identified with the sentence "freedom to choose what he does is important to him," and 71% of the respondents identified with the sentence "being tolerant toward all kinds of people and groups is important to him."

[The] findings demonstrate that Iranian society as a whole is characterized by a pro-liberal value structure that is deeply at odds with the fundamentalist regime. This presents considerable potential for regime change in Iran and for the development of liberal democracy.

The heart wants what the heart wants and there is no amount of oppression which will ever quell the human spirit.

You ask anyone around the world "whether the freedom to choose what is important to him or her" matters to him or her, he or she will say yes. However, that is not an indicator of whether or not that person thinks his or her government is legitimate.

Anyways, all this is beside the point. I just wanted to answer the question at the title of this thread: how democratic is Iran? My answer: it is not completely undemocratic.

Historically, this has proven to be true. The first Supreme Leader - Khomeini - left most of the governance to elected leaders. For much of the second Supreme Leader', Khamenei's, early leadership, the president, Rafsanjani, relegated Khamenei to being a figurehead. Khatami, who was often critical of many of Khamenei was elected overwhelmingly and served as president for two terms, and though Khatami was blocked often, Khatami's administration still made the majority of the proactive governance decisions. The government has shifted from right to left to right to left numerous times; it has followed a number of different economic and political philosophies depending on who was elected.

 

[Sallow]

Connery, et al,

While speaking of Iran, it is not a democracy; not because of how they pick the President (which is usually a Constitutional issue), but because of how the law resides.

"Iranian citizens ages 18 and over, male and female, can vote for the president, but only an Iranian-born male Shiite can run for president, said Alex Vatanka of the Washington-based Middle East Institute.

Those who want to stand have to be approved by Iran's Guardian Council, a non-elected body made up of six clerics and six lawyers operating under the oversight of the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. That means only candidates who have Khamenei's blessing can really contest the election, said Vatanka, making it "very much a limited, controlled process." Khamenei "has four significant tools to weaken democratic institutions," and over time he has used them to sap the power of the president and parliament, said Mehdi Khalaji, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

First, the judiciary are accountable to him and listen only to him, he said. The country's intelligence apparatus also answers to the Supreme Leader, as does Iran's military; he is commander-in-chief. Khamenei also pulls the strings when it comes to state-run TV and radio, allowing him to control the flow of information. Each election, he makes sure that all those who may cause problems for him or challenge his authority won't be qualified," Khalaji said, which means the outcome is effectively "pre-set."

One definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results. This type of society feeds upon itself and thwarts any type of societal growth.

This appears to be a continuation of 2009 when, "a reform candidate of the so-called Green Movement got Iranians fired up ahead of the 2009 election. Young people fed up with the restrictive and intrusive dictates of the clerics and their security forces mobilized the country, only to see their hopes brutally dashed. Just hours after the polls closed, the regime called the election for Ahmadinejad, sending millions of outraged Iranians into the street to protest what had all the markings of a stolen election.

The rigged election was followed by a harsh campaign of repression that snuffed out the opposition's ability to function. The main figures of the day - candidates Mir Hossein Mousavi, his wife, Zahra Rahnavard, and candidate Mehdi Karroubi - remain under house arrest. Thousands have fled to exile, and scores of journalists are in prison, as are large numbers of reformist activists."

The Iranian people appear want to live in a world where they can have freedoms, make choices and have a chance for personal growth and prosperity. Regimes have been toppled over these types of controls and attempts to thwart the spirit of it's people.

(COMMENT)

Iran is a Totalitarian Theocracy, which has some characteristics of Oligarchy or Plutocracy.

It is not democratic because the law and the government do not rest in the hands of the people. It is a "theocracy' because the Supreme Leader (Ayatollah Ali Hosseini Khamenei) makes the religious claim to be an authority on behalf of a Koran (set of religious ideas), and act as an direct agents of a Supreme Being; the source of the rules.

It is Totalitarian Theocracy because the Supreme Leader is not elected by popular vote or a representative governmental election, but instead is selected by the Assembly of Experts in Islamic Scholarship, and may use force to maintain control thereafter.

• In a democracy the leadership is elected by the popular vote of the people. The power of government is retained by the people.
  
• In a Republic the leadership is exercised by elected representatives, not the people themselves. The people do not always have the vote on legislation and the formulation of laws. The US is a republic (not a democracy). It is possible in the US to have the popular vote, and loose to the Electoral College count. Congress votes on laws and may not be held accountable for the vote or campaign promise. Congress determines their own pay, allowances, and benefits; without regards to the desires of the electorate.

Iran consists of rule by an elite group (deliberative body of Mujtahids or Clerics) who rule in their own best interests under Koranic justification. Only certain members of Iranian society have a voice in the Mujtahids. Thus, comes the characteristics of Oligarchy or Plutocracy.​

Anyway, that is my take on the Iranian Government.

Most Respectfully,
R

This is about right.

But if you are using regional "benchmarks" Iran is far more "Democratic" than, say, Saudi Arabia.