Mahmood Delkhasteh Say's Iran's Green movement is revolutionary; Musavi and Karubi, have become liabilities
payvand / Behdad Bordbar
21-Jun-2010 (4 comments)

June 12 was the first anniversary of Iran's tenth presidential election. I had a chance to discuss the development and challenges of the Green movement with Dr Mahmood Delkhasteh.*

BB In its contemporary history, Iran experienced three major social movements: the Constitutional Revolution (1905-1911), the oil nationalization movement (1951-1953) and the Islamic Revolution (1979). Despite this, we have been unable to establish democracy. What makes the Green movement different?

MD It is true that although the goal of all three movements was to establish freedom and independence, all failed to achieve this.  Upon closer look, however, each of these apparent failures has brought us closer to establishing democracy.  Despotism in Iran has historically had three interrelated internal bases: economic (big landownership in the rural economy and the bazaar in urban life), political (the monarchy) and cultural (the clergy).  The Shah had to abolish big landownership in the 1960s, which, in combination with the weakening of oil income and the import economy, also drastically weakened the bazaar. The monarchy was abolished in the 1979 revolution. After this, the re-emergence of dictatorship was based only on its cultural base, the clergy, which made it fragile. In order to overcome this fragility, the regime implemented a policy of crisis making (the current one being, of course, nuclear).  During the presidency of Ahmadinejad, the revoluti... >>>

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cyclicforward

Moosir

by cyclicforward on Mon Jun 21, 2010 02:21 PM PDT

Can you elighten us as what he would see in Iran once there?


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MOOSIRvaPIAZ

He has no idea what he's talking about.

by MOOSIRvaPIAZ on Mon Jun 21, 2010 02:13 PM PDT

Perhaps he should go to Iran for a visit.


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Sheila K

most analysts don't get it

by Sheila K on Mon Jun 21, 2010 12:04 PM PDT

Most analysts who talk about Iran, don't live there or haven't so for a long time. The best commentators about Iran are those within the country--or have lived during post revolutionary era and have seen the worst of the worst. 

Might I add, that there 2 major presepctives about Iran: One through the eyes of men;and one through the eyes of women.

Unfortunately most analysts are men. For those male analysts who believe this to be a "reform" I dare them to put on an Islamic Hejab in public (where ever they are)--for just one day.  To experience the single most humiliating constant might just change their thoughts about Iran in drastic measures. 


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cyclicforward

Finally

by cyclicforward on Mon Jun 21, 2010 09:46 AM PDT

Someone talks some sensible observation.


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