"Iran cannot yet decide whether it is more Iranian or Moslem. Future Iranians need to cope with this dichotomy. Perhaps the reemergence of some degree of the nationalist, pre-Islamic legacy will moderate Iran's more zealous Shi'ite side."
The future of Iran as we know it is in flux, this is critical time for Iranians to exert the most influence on what Iran of tomorrow will look and feel like. Understanding ourselves, our history, ideas and ideals will help us make better sense of the deluge of news, information, propaganda and emotions coming at us, and temper our views and responses.
"Iran is easy to swallow but hard to digest", writes Graham Fuller of Rand in his 1991 book with same title as this article, subtitled 'The Geopolitics of Iran'. Iran cannot yet decide whether it is more Iranian or Moslem. We see this dichotomy in the Green movement, in daily course of Iranian life, and in our conversations about events and the future. Perhaps looking at Iran and Iranians from outside in can shed light as we struggle for a democratic Iran:
As proud bearers of an ancient culture, many Iranians nurture deep feelings of superiority toward their neighbors that border on cultural arrogance. This syndrome is also recognizable in other states that can demonstrate unbroken cultural and political continuity directly back to ancient and great civilizations, such as India and China.
The extraordinary continuity of Iranian history and sophisticated civilization has provided Iran with a multifaceted and tangled national experience and the legacy of a particularly rich and complex national culture. But Persian culture also betrays a profound schizophrenia, born alternatively of an innate sense of superiority stemming from a magnificent imperial past and rich culture, and a nagging sense of inferiority and even insecurity derived from Iran's experience of abject conquest and foreign domination at the hands of Greeks, Arabs, Turks of all kinds, Afghans, Russians, and Western powers.
The Persian world is baroque, on the one hand revealing a sense for the extravagant the has produced a magnificent artistic heritage; on the other, it has evolved a subtle, labyrinthine approach to politics that reflects historical insecurities of life under fickleness and sudden death of absolute monarchy and foreign subjugation.
The experience of domination by powerful British and Russian empires predisposes Iranians to feel that they are never masters of their own fate but rather subject to the wiles of foreign manipulation. Events never have simple explanations but rather reflect the existence of unseen political forces at work behind the scenes manipulating reality. An historically-created suspicion and xenophobia is reinforced by the psychological makeup of Shi'a Islam that emphasizes an environment of suffering and injustice as the inevitable price of commitment to the true faith. A suspicion and arrogance toward the external world is thus coupled with a driving determination for independence and non-involvement with foreign powers- thereby placing a premium in a world often dominated by harsh external forces that have attempted to dominate Iran.
Western powers often operate from the advantage of superior strategic power in their dealings with smaller countries- a situation that grants the powerful the luxury of operating through the direct and open expression of political intentions. But such powers will find themselves frustrated in encountering an Iranian political style born out of relative historical weakness, requiring it to operate through a range of hidden agendas and multilayered purpose.
Iran is destined to remain prickly and difficult power for western states to deal with, a state intent upon establishing its own hegemony in the region -- in a political environment in which Iran perceives itself to have few if any friends. Yet its long civilization and richly endowed national capabilities suggest that Iran could well emerge as one of the most advanced states of the Middle east in years ahead.
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YMJ a/k/a Mehdi, a/ka/....
by Anonymous Observer on Tue Jan 12, 2010 07:53 AM PST"It's not my fault you and many of the members here are ;
A) zionists
B) exiles
C) monarchists
D) not well inforrmed.
Now when i have a different point of view, im labeled."
How Funny!!!!!!!!!!! So, are you saying you don't label people? How about your "enemies list" above? That's not labeling? And how many people have you called "Zionist" already today?
By the way, wasn't your Imam Khomeini an "exile"? How come he was permitted to talk about Iran and march back in and take over, and other Iranians are excluded from doing so?
Son, as your Imam once said, kids like you should stick to their homework instead of getting involved in things that you don't understand.
Claiming to be "well informed" = a little coo coo?
by Anonymouse on Tue Jan 12, 2010 07:39 AM PSTEverything is sacred.
I think 85% are Zionists
by Cost-of-Progress on Tue Jan 12, 2010 07:38 AM PSTThe rest are zionist wannabe's.
____________________
IRAN BEFORE ISLAM
____________________
Why is anyone who is well informed an IRI Goon?
by YMJ on Tue Jan 12, 2010 07:34 AM PSTIt's not my fault you and many of the members here are ;
A) zionists
B) exiles
C) monarchists
D) not well inforrmed.
Now when i have a different point of view, im labeled.
Well its quite clear that the propaganda line that you are following... its created by the zionist media to further their agenda.
Its not the fact that you disagree, its the fact that you bring up PROPAGANDA as fact. You follow a line of sensationalism and rhetoric, rather then a proper intellecutal discussion.
Iran
by Veiled Prophet of Khorasan on Tue Jan 12, 2010 07:13 AM PSTOktaby is right. The strong point of IRR is running around and screaming Zionist. This worked in 1979 but is losing its luster. The delicate art of international diplomacy is not their forte. That is one of the places where the Iranian diaspora would be of help. Having 3+ million of us in many Western and other countries gives us an edge. We know many cultures intimately since we lived in them for the past 30 years. If we put our knowledge to use we can out maneuver the IRR any day.
I figured it out
by Anonymous Observer on Tue Jan 12, 2010 06:43 AM PSTI know who this "YMJ" character is. It's the IRI clown "Mehdi". He appears under various usernames. From his previous comments, he appears to be not older than 14. So, please just ignore him.
Either the islamists have a majority or they don't
by oktaby on Mon Jan 11, 2010 09:32 PM PSTNot moslems, not religious, but islamists is my reference. Those who believe some version of khomeini's so called revolution and mixing of the religion & government in some form that ranges from mild to extreme. If islamists have this majority & hold the reigns of power, then Iran is but a name and a shadow of its past. But they don't have it, hence, what we have seen over the past 30 years. A slide down path of extremism & militarism and the justification is always imperialism, everyone is against us, zionism and .... even if IRR's existence can be attributed to the zionism they keep screaming
The question is whether IRR will be able to hold the reigns of power. It has realized it may not be as easy as turning up the violence another notch, so it has and will continue to spare no effort to appease the key players (China, Russia, U.S., EU) which of course have their own agenda and intrigue. This is a game which IRR is not very good at because it is not as simple as playing one side against the other. The game theory dictates that it will have to give away the house, to keep the land. As it gives away more, more of it will crumble and peel away from within as it has.
The challenge is the one we all know by now. A secular IRANIAN national government as IRR goes down.
YMG: Why do you think
by vildemose on Mon Jan 11, 2010 09:05 PM PSTYMG: Why do you think anyone who disagrees with the IRI and Khomeinist's ideology is a zionist.
Do you see the IRI as an Independent entity ??
Hovak... Brain drain?? comon
by mannya2001 on Mon Jan 11, 2010 08:47 PM PSTHovak, you don't expect me to accept your Brain Drain comment. Obviously, this is a very simple problem, we can put some teflon tape around the pipe where all this draining is happening
OR we can grap the end of the pipe and redirect it back into Iran
OR we can stuff some hard stuff like a rock in the pipe, that way the brain will not drain but instead choke in the pipe.
anyways, I tried to look up on Craigslist, the position in IRI. Currently, they have no availabilities. And please don't discourage me from working for IRI, I know your type. You make something sound so bad, then you're the first in line applying for it when everyone else is sleep! GOOD TRY THOUGH
manny, I have a job for you but it is not the one you want
by Hovakhshatare on Mon Jan 11, 2010 07:36 PM PSTmaking you a judge would be criminal in any system except IRI. Also, take your medications so you can read straight. I mentioned nothing about people leaving Iran on any of my comments. It must be something you know to be true and point it at me. However, by United Nation's stats, Iran has been # 1 Brain Drain country in the world for most of the last 3 decades. That explains the intelligence level of IRI agents as they have a very limited inbreeding gene pool to pick from as normal Iranians won't do what you do. So the only job you qualify for is the one you got. Post IRR, I recommend Palestine, South Lebanon, Afghanistan, Somalia...as you should be able to get similar jobs and even get a promotion based on experience.
As for your other incarnation or basiji brother YMJ: you had your chances and failed. You are not Iranian or would know what independence is as your brain and soul are already slaves to erteja'.
I think ZIONIST Agents on this site need to be exposed..
by YMJ on Mon Jan 11, 2010 06:14 PM PSTI am an Iranian who wants to see my government and my country be independent without foreign interference.
You on the other hand are a zionist who wants to propagate you'r governments media rhetoric .
Its clear to everyone that you are a zionist agent.
Hovak.....you state many are abandoning IRI
by mannya2001 on Mon Jan 11, 2010 06:01 PM PSTyou are saying many folks are leaving IRI and such....
can you please post the job openings at IRI- I am interested to see what's available. I prefer a judge type position....
Yes, I know that when you "guys" take over, I will be a put on trial, sent to Hagua, dispossed,....ah ah ah....I know all these consequences....but for now please post the job offerings so I can get my resume ready!!
thank you
YNJ: DO you live in Iran or
by vildemose on Mon Jan 11, 2010 05:55 PM PSTYMJ: DO you live in Iran or the US? Do you have Green card??
I have given you several chances to prove you are not an agent
by Hovakhshatare on Mon Jan 11, 2010 05:42 PM PSTor less than intelligent.
And you have failed.
Oktaby, sorry for letting this character temporarily change subject but I think IRR agents need to be exposed quickly.
Put rhetoric and sensationalism aside..
by YMJ on Mon Jan 11, 2010 05:28 PM PSTNothing that you are claiming is factual.
His family member was assasinated by someone who clearly wants to sow discord and erupt more demonstrations.
'beating, torturing, raping'
You must be talking about Guantanamo and Abu Gharib , commited by Americans and British.
I was in Iran during the protests, unlike you and the rest of the members who post here, i was there and what you and the rest of the western media is propagating has almost no accuracy.
America/zionisim? attacking? huh?
This site is "Iranian.com" not ZIONIST.COM, so i don tknow why you zionists have joined it. Proabably to propagate for the zionist regime.
and why is your IRR raping, beating, torturing Iranian
by Hovakhshatare on Mon Jan 11, 2010 05:20 PM PSTprotesters by the thousands?
And Mousavie is one of you, so why are you doing the same to him, killing his relatives, arresting his family members..?
and hurling America/zionism is not attacking?
Again you are attacking me.. not my points..
by YMJ on Mon Jan 11, 2010 04:58 PM PST"Your IRR master khamenei called them names and started attacking"
- actually he didnt, get your facts right. He was actually displeased of AHmadinejad for saying that Rafsanjani and his family are corrupt.
A person who doesnt have facts, normally attacks the person. Labeling them.
That is what your doing. In america they call anyone who was against their policy as a "communist", now they call them a "terrorist".
You dont bring any facts to the table.
The 4 candidates; former Prime Minister, former Military Commander, former Majlis Speaker, former mayor and the current president.
It's clear that the 85% who voted , voted for people WITHIN the government....
Moussavi is actually well known for his hardline policies in the 1980's, funny how he is all of a sudden a "reformist".
Lets suppose you are not an IRR mercenary, YMJ
by Hovakhshatare on Mon Jan 11, 2010 04:54 PM PSTand you did not join IC to just do your assigned work. Lets further assume that you are intelligent, or at least semi intelligent. And even further assume that you actually have a soul, and capable of uttering words other than the ones you have repeated like a parrot so far...
IRR approved 4 candidates that you claim 85% of people voted for. A large portion of the same 85% said the results were manipulated. Your IRR master khamenei called them names and started attacking. Now 2 of the same 4 candidates have been under attacks and abuse of all kind. So the very issue that you raised, has been turned to you in the form of a question. Your response, as expected, has been repeating standard IRR slogans that have nothing to do with the question that was based on your comment. What part of this you don't understand?
Your engaing in rhetoric rather than facts..
by YMJ on Mon Jan 11, 2010 04:29 PM PSTYour simply fighting back with rhetoric and sensationalism rather than an intellecutal discussion and debate.
You cant attack my arguments so you try and attack me. Its interesting and anyone who is after the truth rather than the zionist media's propaganda lines, can see through this facade.
YMJ, Manny, Sargord or whatever you name is or your group's
by Hovakhshatare on Mon Jan 11, 2010 04:20 PM PSTOther than signing up yesterday to add the same old, what facts have you brought to the table?
You claim 85% voted for 4 candidates and I said 2 of them are under attack, 3rd backed down and 4th was selected by bastardized numbers and has been killing and raping people since faster than ever. Those are facts based on your assertion on the so called election. the circular logic and basiji/akhoond style hochigary that worked on you, does not work here. No matte how many times is repeated by all of you blood money mercenaries. Answer before you jump to another topic and write the same old hochigary.
Your pushing the Zionist Regime and America's rhetoric...
by YMJ on Mon Jan 11, 2010 04:03 PM PSTAnyone who speaks with facts and not rhetoric and sensationalism is pushing the "IRI line", yet you and many others are pushing the Zionist regime and America's rhetoric and propaganda (which are not factual and dont hold water to the slightest scrutiny).
You can not attack the arguments without rhetoric and sensationalism.
IRI government does not want civil war, that is what the zionist regime and America want. This is quite clear. Especially when America has funded over 400 million dollars for overt and covert operations inside Iran.
VPK, it is right that IRR wants to pick a fight.
by oktaby on Mon Jan 11, 2010 01:25 PM PSTBut I don't believe we are in luck. It is unclear whether Russian calculus finds working with U.S. a less attractive option than supporting Iran along with China, as they collectively work on oil control, and cutting U.S. hands from central Asian supplies. A war in which U.S. sources are stretched thin, and IRR can rely on their material support is worth the risk (by IRR assessment) it provides the opportunity to totally suppress the opposition inside, rally people around war and get to full NK or Taliban style control. In the process if large number of more Iranians die, so what? As always when a regime is reactionary, incompetent & zealous, its future in depends on its masters.
Meanwhile, their backs are against the wall as their survival options are quite limited in their own view, and rest of the world. Hence, their many mistakes and the best opportunity for Iranian people to do away with them, once and for all before IRR can dig a whole so deep none of us can get out from.
OKtaby
Possible War
by Veiled Prophet of Khorasan on Mon Jan 11, 2010 12:26 PM PSTI would not put it beyond IRR to use war. The situation is that there are no convenient neighbors to fight with. The massive US presence on both sides makes it difficult to pick a fight. So we may be in luck. However we need to anticipate their moves and through IIC and other organizations attempt to neutralize any attempts to:
Already IRR mouthpieces are testing the waters and as they say "floating trial balloons". We must make it clear that Iranian diaspora is not going to fall for it. There is one fight and that is the struggle of Iranian people for true democracy. No sectarian fights; no wars between nations and no attempts as some suggest to subvert other governments.
Thanks AO, that is what they are preparing for
by oktaby on Mon Jan 11, 2010 11:32 AM PSTAn external war & full internal suppression & a civil war as needed. They have always reaped rewards from their belligerence so that behavior is reenforced.
Vildemose, I would be surprised if Obama did otherwise.See my Manchurian candidate article that looks at Obama.
OKtaby
Obama is close to make a
by vildemose on Mon Jan 11, 2010 09:27 AM PSTPolitcon, recommended by peace45 (one comment)
Great piece
by Anonymous Observer on Mon Jan 11, 2010 08:29 AM PSTand good analysis. My fear is that IRI's "last resort" plan is to create a civil war in Iran and disintegrate it before it is removed. I wouldn't doubt that for a minute.
PS/ don't worry about the IRI chorus. I noticed that there are many new "users" (YMJ being one) who all have apparently registered within the last 24 hours under various usernames and are pushing the IRI line. Look at the News section. They are very active there (another username is "IranMilitaryForum). They could also be the 4 or 5 IRI supporters on the site who are registering under other usernames.
Yep, YJM that sounds like IRR too. Blame America & U.K.
by Hovakhshatare on Mon Jan 11, 2010 08:23 AM PSTfor any opinion that is not like yours. I'm convinced now.
Only in a freak show like IRR, your nonsense even gets a pass for sanity, let alone reason. Two of the 4 candidates you mention, former IRR themselves, have been under attack since June 12. IRR does not even show mercy on its own. Don't support so hard, they'll probably come after you too one of these days.
BTW: you just signed up with a new name manny or sargord. There are enough of you here, no need to change names because you all sing the same old tired tune.
Many support Iran's government!
by YMJ on Mon Jan 11, 2010 02:55 AM PSTTo deny that Iran's government has overwhelming support is to close your eyes, ears and just take in all the propaganda which America and UK dish out.
The government in Iran has major support.
85% of the eligable voters voted for 4 candidates; one of them was a former Majlis Speaker, one was a former Commander, one was a former prime minister and one was the president and former mayor of Tehran.
Wake up to the realities my friend and stop being an irrational sensationalist who is spewing rhetoric and propaganda.
manny2001, pushing the shi't issue does not
by Hovakhshatare on Sun Jan 10, 2010 07:44 PM PSTchange any minds or facts. Even if Iranians by some freak of nature wanted shi't for government, that does not make IRR any less criminal. There is no hiding of this criminal regime even under the backward facade of shi't. And anyone defending or working with this beast is a criminal. Now you want to defend this regime and that's obvious. But let it be clear that makes you a criminal in the eyes of majority of Iranians. Your comments about re-igniting shi't sectarianism, further shows the mindset of IRR and its followers which is divide, destroy and control any which way and kill as many as needed. The only difference betwen you and taliban is that shi't is even more dangerous, given the opportunity.
There are signs that a secular national government will emerge
by Simorgh on Sun Jan 10, 2010 10:50 AM PSTas the evolving slogans like نه شرقی، نه غربی، جمهوری ایرانی show
Great article. I'll get the book.