The aim of this working paper is to examine economic policies of Iran's leading political factions around from Mousavi to Ahmadinejad, which are based on characteristics of political and factional structures of the country, suggesting some policy implications for South Korea.
A hybrid political structure combining Republican and Islamic institutions was established after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Guardianship of the Islamic Jurists, a core ideology of Iran, has forced political factions to devote themselves to the Supreme Leader and values of the Revolution such as Islamic governance under Sharia and economic independence from foreign powers. This unique system has constrained Iran from moving into the global economy from current economic isolation imposed by international sanctions.
As a republican state, however, Iran has experienced political coalitions and conflicts through presidential as well as parliamentary elections by the direct vote of the people every four years. Policy differences by major political leader are as follows. During the Iran-Iraq war in 1980s, the Mousavi administration controlled economy with austerity policy and highlighted the Revolutionary spirit. The Rafsanjani administration attempted to win traditional merchant-elite classes (bazaari) and industrial capitalists, as well as to improve foreign relations with the West in order to promote post-war reconstruction. The Khatami administration continued Rafsanjani’s pragmatic economic policies, but put greater emphases on foreign direct investment than the predecessor. Contrary to Khatami’s economic reform program, the Ahmadinejad administration has increased government involvement to reduce social inequality, providing subsidies for food and fuel.
Despite current political uncertainties and economic sanctions, Iran has huge potential for economic growth with large construction sectors, huge consumer market of 75 million people and abundant hydrocarbon resources. Given its strategic significances, U.S., EU, and Japan can expand economic relations with Iran in the long term. Thus Korea also should prepare for more cooperative economic relations, which will be necessary in the post-sanctions period of Iran.

국문요약 

제1장 머리말 
1. 연구의 배경 및 목적 
2. 연구의 범위 및 방법론 
3. 연구의 구성 및 한계 

제2장 정치ㆍ권력구조의 특성과 과제 
1. 이슬람법 정치의 배경 및 역사 
2. 정치 및 권력구조의 특성 
3. 이란 헌법의 특징 및 역할 
4. 이슬람법학자와 혁명수비대의 역할 
5. 시사점: 향후 정치구조 개혁의 과제 

제3장 주요 정치세력의 동향 
1. 주요 정치세력의 구분 
2. 2012 총선을 둘러싼 주요 정파별 동향 
3. 핵 개발에 따른 국내외 정치 동향 
4. 시사점: 향후 권력구조의 향방 

제4장 주요 정파별 경제정책의 쟁점 
1. 개요 
2. 보수파와 온건파의 갈등: 1980~90년대 초반 
3. 실용파와 개혁파의 연합: 1990년대 중반~2000년대 초반 
4. 개혁파와 보수파의 대립: 2000년대 중반 이후 
5. 시사점: 향후 경제정책 전망 

제5장 요약 및 시사점 

참고문헌 

Executive Summary