Government Systems of the Middle East

SS7CG5: The student will explain the STRUCTURE of the national governments of SW Asia (Middle East)

a. COMPARE the PARLIAMENTARY DEMOCRACY of the State of Israel, the MONARCHY of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the THEOCRACY of the Islamic Republic of Iran, distinguishing the form of leadership and the role of the citizens in terms of voting rights and personal freedoms.

Israel - Type of leader • Israel is a parliamentary

democracy.

• The president is head of state and serves in a primarily ceremonial role (Shimon Peres).

• The prime minister is the head of government (Benjamin Netanyahu).

Israel – Becoming the leader• President is elected

by the Knesset (parliament).

• After election, President nominates a member of the Knesset to become the Prime Minister (following a vote of confidence from the Knesset)

Israel – Role of Citizen• Citizens over 18 can vote for members of the

unicameral (one law making body) legislature called the Knesset.

Israel – Personal Freedoms

• Freedom of Speech – Yes• Freedom of the Press – Yes• Women’s Rights- Yes, equality is given to

females• Freedom of Religion- yes• The personal freedoms of Palestinian Arabs

living in Israel have been questioned. Some evidence exists that they are not treated the same as other Israeli citizens.

Saudi Arabia – Type of Leader• Saudi Arabia is an

Islamic Absolute Monarchy.

• King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud is the is the current King of Saudi Arabia and Head of the House of Saud.

Saudi Arabia – Becoming the Leader• The right of succession is

hereditary (passed down through the family).

• A newly established council selects a successor among the crown princes of the Saudi royal family.

• The King’s power is limited by Islamic law and he must build consensus among religious leaders and other influential Saudis.

Saudi Arabia – Role of Citizen • The role of the citizen in Saudi

Arabia is to obey the King and to follow strict Islamic law (Sharia)

• The Quran is the Constitution • There are no voting rights or

official political parties in this country.

• Only males 21 or older are permitted to vote for local issues but it rarely, if ever, happens.

Saudi Arabia – Personal Freedoms

• Freedom of Speech – No• Freedom of the Press –

No• Freedom of Religion-No• Women’s rights are

severely limited.• Public theaters are

prohibited.• There are government

censors in college classes to make sure nothing is taught that goes against Islamic law.

Iran – Type of Leader• Iran is a theocratic republic

with a presidential system.

• The government of Iran is based on Islamic law.

• The Supreme Leader of Iran, who is a religious leader, is chief of state and has final say on all matters.

• The Supreme Leader is commander-in-chief of the armed forces.

Iran – Becoming the Leader• The Supreme Leader is

selected by the Council of Experts (not the public) & he is Supreme Leader for life.

• The Council of Experts, as well as the legislature and president, are elected by popular vote.

• Candidates for President must be approved by the Supreme Leader & the Council of Guardians.

• While the president is head of government, he may be removed by the Supreme Leader at any time.

• So, is it really a democracy?

Iran – Role of Citizen• There is universal suffrage (voting) for

everyone over 18. • The role of the citizen in Iran is to obey the

Supreme Leader, follow Islamic law, etc.• Iranian Protests After 2009 Elections

Iran – Personal Freedoms• Freedom of Speech – No• Freedom of the Press – strictly limited; lots of

censorship from government in television, internet, etc.

• Freedom of Religion- limited for anything other than Shia branch of Islam

• Women’s Rights- they have more rights than in Saudi Arabia but are somewhat limited in government positions (male dominated society).

Freedom Scores:1-2= free3-5= partly free6-7= not free

IsraelFreedom

Score= 1.5

Saudi ArabiaFreedom Score= 7

IranFreedom Score=6

Leader PresidentPrime Minister(Parliamentary Democracy)

King(Monarchy)

Supreme Leader(Theocratic Republic)President (secondary)

Takes Power by…

Election Hereditary Selected by Council of Experts

Role of Citizen

Vote Obey Obey and “Vote”

Personal Freedoms

Freedom ofSpeech: YesPress: Yes

Freedom of Speech: NoPress: No

Freedom of Speech: NoPress: No