20 June 2009
Iran’s Green Revolution
The demonstrations in Iran following the presidential elections of June 12, 2009, challenge sectarian dominance of the democratic political process. The demonstrators and supporters of the three rivals of President Ahmadinejad don’t question the election process itself, and probably acknowledge the accuracy of the vote tally.
The religious power structure in Iran has co-opted the democratic political system. Mousavi’s Green demonstrators are calling for secularization of that system. They have lost their faith in the wisdom of integrating Islamic dogma with principles of government. The strength and unity of the Iranian clergy allows them to determine the outcome of elections and parliamentary deliberations; there has been a growing dissatisfaction among the urban middle class with that state of affairs.
The result of the demonstrations will ultimately be a new revolution in Iran, as the numbers of reformers increases from the current 36% of the population to a majority. As every change in Iran, this will take time—but only a little longer.
The demonstrations in Iran following the presidential elections of June 12, 2009, challenge sectarian dominance of the democratic political process. The demonstrators and supporters of the three rivals of President Ahmadinejad don’t question the election process itself, and probably acknowledge the accuracy of the vote tally.
The religious power structure in Iran has co-opted the democratic political system. Mousavi’s Green demonstrators are calling for secularization of that system. They have lost their faith in the wisdom of integrating Islamic dogma with principles of government. The strength and unity of the Iranian clergy allows them to determine the outcome of elections and parliamentary deliberations; there has been a growing dissatisfaction among the urban middle class with that state of affairs.
The result of the demonstrations will ultimately be a new revolution in Iran, as the numbers of reformers increases from the current 36% of the population to a majority. As every change in Iran, this will take time—but only a little longer.
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