Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad speaks while standing under a picture of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran June 3, 2006. (Morteza Nikoubazl/Reuters)

The mind of a mullah

What's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei really thinking? Here's some quick psychoanalysis.

By Mark Scheffler
Published: June 17, 2009 10:15 ET
Updated: June 17, 2009 17:46 ET

There’s been a lot of talk about the key players in the Iranian election saga, but little mention of their psychological motivations. So we decided to play Freud. Helping us with this head game is Marvin Zonis, a professor emeritus at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Zonis is a political risk expert who was a widely cited commentator during the 1979 Iranian Revolution. He was educated at Yale University, the Harvard Business School, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he received a Ph.D. in political science, and the Institute for Psychoanalysis, Chicago, where he received psychoanalytic training.

What's the mindset right now of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei?

The overwhelming commitment he has is to the preservation of the Islamic system. In the end he’s not loyal to anything except maintaining the power of the cleric, and secondly to maintaining political stability. If he thinks he’ll buy off the disaffection he’ll do it, and in the end he could dump Ahmadinejad if he thought it would preserve stability.

What about Khamenei’s religiosity. Does that count for anything in terms of how people see him as a leader?

[Ayatollah Ruhollah] Khomeini was referred to as “The Leader.” The guy who was appointed to succeed him [Khamenei] had no religious credentials. He got the job because Khomeini fingered him as a loyalist. They started referring to him as “The Supreme Leader” to give him credibility. Islam is important, but there’s no question that the principle goal is to stay in power. They believe, through various acts of self-delusion, that to stay in power is the best thing for Iran.

What is the psychological game behind making the U.S. the boogeyman?

It continues to play. It does so because there’s a small hook of reality they can attach to this. The main thing is: Iranians love conspiracy theories. They love conspiracy thinking. It plays a huge role in Iran. For example: The Iranians refuse to believe that they had made the revolution. The United States did. Why would the U.S. do it? Because the Shah was too friendly with the Soviets, and they were worried about Soviet penetration of the Persian Gulf. So the U.S. brought Khomeini in. So if they brought him into power why did he seize the hostages? Well to essentially throw people off the track. You see, there’s an explanation for everything. They are going to see the hand of the U.S. in this business. But [Obama’s] got to be cautious.

Comments:

5 Comments.

Login or Register to post comments

Posted by desimaj on June 17, 2009 12:20 ET

Wow, what a piece of racist tripe

Posted by bkusha on June 17, 2009 13:47 ET

One big early mistake: Khamane'i was NOT appointed by Khomeini. And THAT is very important. Khomeini appointed no one. The Assembly of Experts, in a compromise, chose Khamane'i, but since he had little to none of the charisma or qualifications of the founder of the Islamic Republic, he was elevated overnight into an "ayatollah" and a "faghigh" (a much higher ranking cleric) by that Assembly (akin to the British parliament elevating a priest to an Archbishop overnight; they can't do that, it's not in their power), and then bestowed the Leadership in him. Some people even came forth with testimonies of "Seeing a light go from Khomeini upon his death bed to Khamene'i," supposedly indicating Divine transfer of authority.

Posted by bkusha on June 17, 2009 13:49 ET

And your generalization of Islam is horrific, bigoted, and ignorant. Shame.

P.s. I am NOT a Muslim, but a Baha'i, and was raised in Iran.

Posted by mattpom on June 17, 2009 23:21 ET

"Islam in general is a very joyless religion: Life is miserable, prepare to die and go to heaven. The kids aren’t into that. Culturally it’s a complete disjunction."

I'm a Jew and find this statement to be an unthoughtful characterization - did it really help your story? Plus, you are missing the point. The younger population in protesting in the streets have been very careful en masse and during individual interviews to make sure this isn't about Islam, but about democracy and self-determination. This young group may be the first generation to strike a balance between joy and respect in their Islamic life and an openness to other cultures. They want it all, and I, for one, hope they get it.

Posted by pickles on June 17, 2009 22:20 ET

Wow, please find an actual expert on Iran next time. The number of errors in this article is astounding. Khamene'i, for example, *did* have religious credentials - they just weren't at the level required by the Constitution (so they both promoted him and rewrote it to lower the qualification level). Also, "leader" (not "the leader") is the term for Khamene'i's position; "Supreme Leader" is the English term for it. It has always been simply "leader" (rahbar in Farsi). Some also call him "Faqih," as his position is to be the Vali-ye Faqih, or Guardian Jurist. Furthermore, while the Iranians are indeed a bit conspiracy-minded, they are far more focused on US (also British) interference with the 1953 overthrow of Mossadeq rather than the 1979 revolution. The depiction of Islam is also incorrect, and I most definitely qualify as an infidel! This article as it is should be removed.

Recent on Middle East:

Is Mahmoud Abbas really ready to quit this time?

Matt Beynon Rees - Israel and Palestine - November 20, 2009 16:27 ET

Worn out has-been or drama queen? Interpretations of the Palestinian president's threat to quit vary greatly.

On Location: Tel Aviv

Sara Sorcher - Israel and Palestine - November 20, 2009 06:36 ET

Israel's enemy within: A rising militancy from the Jewish settlements

Matt McAllester - Israel and Palestine - November 19, 2009 11:21 ET

Part 1: Jewish terror from the Biblical lands of Israel

Israel's enemy within: A community on the edge

Matt McAllester - Israel and Palestine - November 19, 2009 11:17 ET

Part 2: The West Bank settlement of Kfar Tapuach, home to many followers of Meir Kahane

Israel's enemy within: Palestinian militants gird for battle

Matt McAllester - Israel and Palestine - November 19, 2009 11:15 ET

Part 3: Tensions rise between Palestinians and Israeli settlers in the West Bank.

Israel's enemy within: The "Hilltop Youth"

Matt McAllester - Israel and Palestine - November 19, 2009 11:10 ET

Part 4: Teenage Jewish boys claim West Bank hilltops as their own and prepare to defend them.

Lebanese discover their own backyard

Ben Gilbert - Lebanon - November 18, 2009 06:43 ET

An eco-tourism venture is opening up a whole new world for locals and foreigners alike.

Grave of Iran protester is desecrated

Iason Athanasiadis - Middle East - November 17, 2009 06:37 ET

Family charges Ahmadinejad regime is trying to erase memory of Neda Soltan.

Analysis: What is behind Saudi offensive in Yemen

Caryle Murphy - Saudi Arabia - November 15, 2009 14:26 ET

Fear of Iran is a key factor in Riyadh stepping up its military campaign against the Houthi rebels.

The four quarters of Jerusalem

Sara Sorcher and Jessica Griffin - Israel and Palestine - November 15, 2009 09:22 ET

Analysis: Passing of Iraq election law brings relief

Jane Arraf - Iraq - November 12, 2009 17:17 ET

U.S. officials made unwanted compromises, but can now turn their attention toward troop withdrawal.

Going to the beach, Iranian-style

Iran GlobalPost Correspondent - Middle East - November 10, 2009 17:43 ET

A few hours' drive from the capital of one of the Islamic world's most conservative countries, one can find a respite from the heat and society's strict rules — just ask the women in bikinis.

Fort Hood shootings have Jordan tie

Tom Peter - Jordan - November 9, 2009 19:52 ET

But Jordanians do not think Americans will stereotype them because the Fort Hood shooter's parents came from Jordan.

Economic crisis affects Lebanon de-mining

Don Duncan - Lebanon - November 9, 2009 08:55 ET

Funds that would go toward clearing a 205-square-kilometer danger zone have been diverted.

Opinion: Why sanctions aren't the answer for Iran

Joel Brinkley - Worldview - November 6, 2009 15:45 ET

America needs to understand that punitive measures aren't going to keep Iran in check. Not when Russia and China have a lot to lose.

Afghanistan: The fog of war

Finbarr O'Reilly - Afghanistan - November 5, 2009 10:51 ET

Video: Embedded with Canadian troops, photographer Finbarr O'Reilly captures the confusion and chaos of a worsening conflict.

Will the hajj be an incubator for swine flu?

Caryle Murphy - Saudi Arabia - November 4, 2009 16:32 ET

Millions walk, pray and eat together during the hajj. How Saudi Arabia is trying to minimize the swine flu risks.

Italy, the CIA and rendition

Michael Moran - Diplomacy - November 4, 2009 15:56 ET

Analysis: What Wednesday's stunning verdict in Rome means for the "War on Terror".

Tehran again sees protests and violence

Iason Athanasiadis - Middle East - November 4, 2009 10:10 ET

Anti-government protesters in Iran hijack a pro-government demonstration.