Khamenei is not actually challenged by new people in the system. His position is more or less permanent. But to get to that position, then, yes, he must have done some things “right.”
Iran has multiple power centers that interact in a very opague way. It would be possible for a very popular president who has the security forces/military on his side to strip Khamenei of power.
Pushing for nuclear makes Khamenei more popular with the security forces/military while also weaking the influence of business men as a political force.
See the Dictators Handbook for the general principles of political power and the following TED talk for Iran’s political landscape in particular and the nuclear question.
It’s worthwhile that this mechanism makes it easy to understand why North Korea has it’s military first-policy. There are no powerful businessman and even when it means that people starve being popular with the military is what’s necessary to keep political power.
Khamenei is not actually challenged by new people in the system. His position is more or less permanent. But to get to that position, then, yes, he must have done some things “right.”
Iran has multiple power centers that interact in a very opague way. It would be possible for a very popular president who has the security forces/military on his side to strip Khamenei of power.
Pushing for nuclear makes Khamenei more popular with the security forces/military while also weaking the influence of business men as a political force.
See the Dictators Handbook for the general principles of political power and the following TED talk for Iran’s political landscape in particular and the nuclear question.
It’s worthwhile that this mechanism makes it easy to understand why North Korea has it’s military first-policy. There are no powerful businessman and even when it means that people starve being popular with the military is what’s necessary to keep political power.
Yes! That’s exactly what I was suggesting! Couldn’t have put it better myself.