Aynak

De facto monarchies

Thank you dear Aynak, I totally agree that regimes such as Asad's, IRI, Mobark's et al, are in effect monarchies disguised as republics. Also your point with regards to the highest office of the nation being subject to term limits is a crucial one! A permanent position (regardless of the system of governance) will be a breeding ground for corruption and despotism! 

Re: Republic vs. oil

 (Sorry reposting the last message, as there is an issue on IC mixing Persian fonts and English)

Dear Arj,

Welcome aboard and it has been a pleasure reading your comments.

" I'm not a royalist, but thought I could throw in my two cents if you
don't mind (albeit IMHO the issue brought up here has more to due with
socio-economic infrastructures than republic vs monarchy)!"

And far from me faulting anyone for being whatever they believe in.  
Myself, I don't categorize myself as a Republican, rather a supporter
of  --accountable--   government.  Your statement about socio-economic
as the main driving force leaves no room for any sane debate :)  This
thread was really a tongue in cheek for our resident Monarchists, for
laughter and joy.  This is my sense of humor and you should already see
it in motion :)

As an extension:

In Iran, post 88 "election", this was one of the slogans from roof tops:

Mojtaba, Bemeery, Rahbray Ro nabinee.

(This highlights the resentment of Iranian people for Mojtab Khamanee
and their clear hate for the system, which in power structure is no
different than the previous, with King Khamaneh-ee grrom his son to be
heir apparent!).

In Syria also, from my Syrian friends, people are fed up with Assad Monarchy.

In Egypt, just a few months back, one of the biggest fear of protesters was the Mobark's son will take his place.

In case of Iraq, this was also the case about Saddam and Odyeh.

The upshot of all of this is, a system that has *permanent* force at the
top in the name of a king or president, for life time (no difference
between the two), has *less* accountability, and is more corruptable.  
From N.Korea to Libya this is so evident that no sane/rational person or
a person without ulterior motives and agenda can deny.

A true republic with *fixed* termed limits, without the ability of an
ex-president to become a president again ..... can be  a  *first* step
toward a more accountable government.    There are other even more
democratic power structures, with even less power at the hands of
President per se, like we see in Germany (coalition governments).  

In the mean time, we can all look at Saudi Arabia and Bahrain as well as
Islamic Kingodm of Iran as shining examples of Monarchy system in the
*region*.

correction

Oil,Military base,Gas.

that's how they de-brief the region.

OMG  and they all know is about that region.

Maziar

Re: Republic vs. oil

Dear Arj,

Welcome aboard and it has been a pleasure reading your comments.

" I'm not a royalist, but thought I could throw in my two cents if you
don't mind (albeit IMHO the issue brought up here has more to due with
socio-economic infrastructures than republic vs monarchy)!"

And far from me faulting anyone for being whatever they believe in.   Myself, I don't categorize myself as a Republican, rather a supporter of  --accountable--   government.  Your statement about socio-economic as the main driving force leaves no room for any sane debate :)  This thread was really a tongue in cheek for our resident Monarchists, for laughter and joy.  This is my sense of humor and you should already see it in motion :)

As an extension:

In Iran, post 88 "election", this was one of the slogans from roof tops:

Mojtaba, Bemeery, Rahbray Ro nabinee.

(This highlights the resentment of Iranian people for Mojtab Khamanee and their clear hate for the system, which in power structure is no different than the previous, with King Khamaneh-ee grrom his son to be heir apparent!).

In Syria also, from my Syrian friends, people are fed up with Assad Monarchy.

In Egypt, just a few months back, one of the biggest fear of protesters was the Mobark's son will take his place.

In case of Iraq, this was also the case about Saddam and Odyeh.

The upshot of all of this is, a system that has *permanent* force at the top in the name of a king or president, for life time (no difference between the two), has *less* accountability, and is more corruptable.   From N.Korea to Libya this is so evident that no sane/rational person or a person without ulterior motives and agenda can deny.

A true republic with *fixed* termed limits, without the ability of an ex-president to become a president again ..... can be  a  *first* step toward a more accountable government.    There are other even more democratic power structures, with even less power at the hands of President per se, like we see in Germany (coalition governments).  

In the mean time, we can all look at Saudi Arabia and Bahrain as well as Islamic Kingodm of Iran as shining examples of Monarchy system in the *region*.

ایران برای همه ایرانیان
رای ایرانیان - دولت ایرانیان
نه ولایت وقیح نه پادشاه سفیه

economy or freedom?

Dear BoosBoos, while your point with regards to American support of the Saudi regime is valid, in comparrison to internal factors, it has little to do with the pro-democracy aspirations (or lackthereof) of Saudi people! IMO, a strong economy, which is not comparable to that of Egypt or even Iran (not just due to oil, but due to mecca and haj revenues), coupled with lack of interest in civil reforms due to tribal social make up, has created a sense of complacency for the Saudi population. One that does not exist elsewhere in the region other than the Persian Gulf countries!

The US likes the Saudi regime

Saudis just slaughtered Bahrainis -- the US said nothing (Parazit / VOA said nothing).  

The US likes regimes it can control: Saudis = US puppet.  

Shia have aligned with Russia;  Wahhabis have aligned with the US (Turkey / NATO / Israel).  

Three Words: OIL GAS, & MILITARYBASES ... that's what it's about. 

Republic vs. oil

Dear Aynak, I'm not a royalist, but thought I could throw in my two cents if you don't mind (albeit IMHO the issue brought up here has more to due with socio-economic infrastructures than republic vs monarchy)! Each one of the countries you mentioned, are indeed different from the other. For instance Jordan's population is made up of Bedouins (of Arabian peninsula) and ethinic Palestinians (refugees and their decendants who are not quite seen as full Jordanians) each of whom make up more or less half of the poulation. This ethnic divide has been utilized by the Hashemites to snuff dissent.

In Saudi Arabia it's a different stroy, however. Due to absence of foundations of a civil society and lack of public political awareness and aspirations, the Saudi governing system might acutally be ahead of its population in many areas, as is in Kuwait, Qatar, Oman... Most of these societies are tribal in cultural terms who do not see civil reforms as their main priority. Not to mention a surge in price of oil that has made the economies of those states buoyant! Bahrain however is an exception due to the sunni rullers marginalization of a majority Shia population!

Therefore, expecting the same pro-democracy movement as in Egypt, which is politically and socially light years ahead of Saudi Arabia, in those societies would not prove to be a realistic assumption.

Re: Let this repenting forme

 Mehrdad:

 "I believe the support by the West and the subsequent fall of dictatorial
regime in some places and not others as noted in the blog has little to
do with Monarchy vs. republic but how subservient those regimes are and
whether their expiration date has been approaching or not."

Not sure there was much difference between Mobarak vs King Abdullah as far as degree of obedience is concerned.   Royalty must have something to do with it, otherwise what makes expiration date come for one vs another?

Let this repenting former

Let this repenting former imam-lovers turned Mossadeghistes also chime in;

I believe the support by the West and the subsequent fall of dictatorial regime in some places and not others as noted in the blog has little to do with Monarchy vs. republic but how subservient those regimes are and whether their expiration date has been approaching or not.

But it seems the advancement in technology has made the spread of information easier and thus harder to keep masses head under the sand, so it is my hope that all those dictatorial regime go thru the transformation and yield to their masses one by one.

Good blog.

'Hambastegi' is the main key to victory 

Mehrdad

Darius jaan

This place is a hot spot for repenting former imam-lovers turned Mossadeghists post-june15. As you know, when one lose an imam one has to make a replacement. its in the genes ;:)).

cheers!!!

Don't blame the Monarchy for Your Own Poor Choice ...

Khomeiny’s Hichi

Khomeini: No To Monarchy | Iranian.com

It’s Not our fault if You Screwed Up Your Revolution …

We Constitutionalist didn't highjack YOUR VOTE be it Yesterday: 

Footage of the 1979 referendum of the Islamic Republic of Iran

No More than quite recently during the last Parody of an Election  in Your Beloved Republic: 

FED UP WITH POLITICAL CORRECTNESS: Ahmadinejad is NOT my Prime Minister ! 

SATIRE: I voted;0)

32 years of your Bankrupt Recipe not only confirms the ever growing Illegitimacy of Your Republic in the First place:

pictory:Bakhtiar Denounces Bazargan's Provisionary Government in exile (1979)

RESTORATION:Shapour Bakhtiar advocates Restoring the Monarchy

Particularly In the eyes of a far wiser generation than yours or mine:

BELLA CIAO:Shahbanou Farah Warmly Greeted by Green Supporters in Paris

Soccer Player Shahram Motejaded Meets Shahbanou Farah

Constitutionalist Student Shares Views On Mohammed Reza Shah's Rule

Constitutionalist Student Shares Views on the Pros and Cons of Reza Shah's Rule

To whom You and Your Likeminds owe a Public Apology  :

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7mIy97_rlo

But also for all the collateral Damages your Poor Choice inflicted on two generations of Iranians:

HISTORY OF VIOLENCE: IRI's Reign of Terror Begins (BBC Report 1979)

SARBAZ:Fereidoun Farrokhzad helps child soldiers of Iran Iraq War

CNN report on Tehran University Crackdown by IRI Bassijis

But do feel free to Fantasize on Your Bankrupt Jomhurykhah Model ...

Rahul Gandhi breaks silence on India corruption protests | Reuters

Just be Careful with Your Experimentation this time round ... for it may prove fatal to the Credibility of what you advocate:

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEWTTbtl82s

LOL 

Oh yes Swedish Monarchy

I forgot, Sweeden and Spain are both Monarchies resembling Iran.  BTW, how about Saeyd Ali Rahbar?   He is getting up there ain't he?  What has it been, 22-23 years? Seems like he vetos presidents one after another, and lead a coup just 2 years ago. Justlike a good constitutional one does.

Looks to me we got the perfect Monarchy already;)

More Flexible Than Your Stubborn Jomhurys Perhaps ?

You need to update your knowledge on the concept of the Monarchy in general …

Explaining the Concept of a Constitutional Monarchy to a Staunch Republican

What does it mean to be royal? Charlie Rose interviews Jeremy Paxman on the British Monarchy

World's Top Democratic Governments: Economist Intelligence Unit's Democracy Index 2010 (PHOTOS) ( Published via the Huffington Post)

But Feel Free to Keep On Dreaming along with your Jomhurykhah Likeminds ... After all Experimentation is What You Seem to Enjoy most ... Too bad the Outcome isn't always as attractive :

SATIRE: The Burqa Republic of Our IRANICAN Dreams ;0)