1. What is the role of religion in Iran's government?
2. How is Lebanon's democracy different from Israels?
1. The role of religion in Iran's government is quite significant. Iran is an Islamic Republic, which means that religious principles, specifically those of Shia Islam, are a fundamental part of the country's governance. The Supreme Leader, who is the highest-ranking political and religious authority in Iran, holds immense power and is selected based on their expertise in religious matters. Iran's constitution is based on the principle of velayat-e faqih, which grants the Supreme Leader the final say in major political decisions and gives religious clerics influence over various aspects of governance. The government also has specific institutions, like the Guardian Council, that enforce Islamic principles and ensure compatibility with Islamic law.
2. Lebanon's democracy differs from Israel's in several ways.
Firstly, Lebanon has a confessional political system, where the distribution of power is based on religious affiliation. The government is divided among different religious sects, such as Maronite Christians, Shia Muslims, Sunni Muslims, and others, with each sect being allocated a specific number of seats in parliament and key positions in government. This system aims to ensure representation and power-sharing among different religious communities and maintain a delicate balance between them.
In contrast, Israel operates under a more standard parliamentary democracy. While it acknowledges the importance of religious communities in the country, Israel does not have a formal religious-based distribution of power. Its government is based on a proportional representation system where parties compete in general elections, and seats in the Knesset (parliament) are allocated based on the percentage of votes obtained. Religion plays a significant role in Israel's society and politics but does not have the same structured influence on government functioning as seen in Lebanon.