Iran Unrest Shifts Power Dynamics
Washington Post / Tara Bahrampour
02-Jul-2009 (one comment)

The large-scale protests in Iran since its hotly disputed June 12 presidential election have shaken the Islamic republic's long-standing balance of political power. For decades, hard-line members of Iran's cleric-led government controlled the judiciary, military, intelligence and state media. But reformists also had wide public support and room to push for more moderate social and political policies. That delicate balance worked for both sides, providing an outlet for people who chafed at the Islamic regime's austerity and isolationism, while ensuring that the core system, created after the 1979 revolution, would not be seriously challenged. The reformists did not advocate a revolutionary overhaul. The general view was that Iranians did not want another revolution. But the recent protests attracted hundreds of thousands into Iran's streets, resulting in at least 17 deaths and many more injuries. The hard-liners have tightened their grip, leaving the reformists to decide whether they should keep playing the old game or whether the rules have changed so much that the game no longer exists.

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rosie is roxy is roshan

No. Extra innings.

by rosie is roxy is roshan on Fri Jul 03, 2009 03:18 PM PDT

End of article:

 

Reformist, pragmatic, centrist forces will continue to challenge his [Ahmadinejad's] rule and question the legitimacy" of his government, Parsi said. "The current protest movement is not a one-trick pony. It can manifest its protestations through many means."

Sadri, of Lake Forest College, said the reformists must "find new ways to stay organized and stay focused" to succeed in the long run. "They can wait for an opportunity -- an economic crisis, a political upheaval. . . . We don't have to plan their downfall, we just have to wait."

For now, Afshari said, the best compromise that dissenting politicians can hope for may be some positions in Ahmadinejad's cabinet. Mousavi is unlikely to be allowed much activity, Afshari said, adding that those seeking change will have to work outside the system, possibly with a new generation of leaders.

"They'll be definitely more radical but peaceful, like what we had in the Islamic revolution," he said. "After the shah closed all windows for reform, that's when people went to a revolutionary role."

 

 



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