Sanctions Don't Work; Urban v. Rural; Freedom v. Economic Opportunity
Al Jazeera / Reza Marashi NIAC
26-Aug-2011 (one comment)

Iranians' displeasure with their government is palpable and transcends demographics. Before the contested 2009 presidential election, few were satisfied with the government's performance. Since then, this displeasure has only increased - but not for the reasons that many assume. More than politics, the state of Iran's economy is the greatest source of discontent. Despite record profits from high oil prices, many Iranians are forced to navigate an economy plagued with unemployment, inflation and corruption. However, the assumption in the West that sanctions will aggravate Iranian government mismanagement to the point of popular revolt is largely misguided.

This presents an arduous task for American policymakers. Publicly, they justify broad-based sanctions as punishment for the Iranian government's refusal to yield to pressure over its nuclear programme. That is a hard sell to even the most liberal 30-something in urban Tehran - and the majority of Iranians residing outside the capital are far less progressive and politicised. They embrace neither sanctions nor their own governments' malfeasance. From Ahvaz to Mashhad, Iranians outside Tehran are undoubtedly dissatisfied with the status quo, but their political discussions focus more on skyrocketing prices and dwindling employment rather than the lack of political and social freedoms.

During my experience living and traveling throughout Iran, I spoke regularly with global bu... >>>

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Sanctions Don't Work; Urban vs. Rural;

by BoosBoos on

Employment rather than the lack of political and social freedoms are more interesting to people outside of big cities; Sanctions control the Middle-Class; Shrinking Middle-Class; & Resentment Against those Imposing Sanctions


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