Iranian politics for review
Iranian police and basiji are cracking down on improper dress, but politically the government might be in trouble.The crack down on loose head scarves and men's ties might be the government's effort to "shore up its base."
Students should remember that the leadership of the opposition comes from an economic elite anxious to get back the political power it had under former president Khatami. The "individual freedoms" theme of their opposition to Ahmadinejad is key to winning support from the middle class, secularists, and leftists. The attacks on the government's failures to create jobs and economic growth are aimed at disaffecting Ahmadinejad's base.
These political maneuverings are not relevant to this year's AP exam, but discussing them and their implications is a way of reviewing some of the basics of Iranian politics and government.
Simon Tisdall, the Guardian (UK) correspondent in Tehran wrote an article today titled, "Inside the struggle for Iran."
"A grand coalition of anti-government forces is planning a second Iranian revolution via the ballot box to deny President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad another term in office and break the grip of what they call the 'militia state' on public life and personal freedom.
"Encouraged by recent successes in local elections, opposition factions, democracy activists, and pro-reform clerics say they will bring together progressive parties loyal to former president Mohammad Khatami with so-called pragmatic conservatives led by Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani.
"The alliance aims to exploit the president's deepening unpopularity, borne of high unemployment, rising inflation and a looming crisis over petrol prices and possible rationing to win control of the Majlis in general elections which are due within 10 months.
"Parliament last week voted to curtail Mr Ahmadinejad's term by holding presidential and parliamentary elections simultaneously next year.
"Though the move is likely to be vetoed by the hardline Guardian Council, it served notice of mounting disaffection in parliament..."
More details in Tisdall's article, Reformists prepare to take on Ahmadinejad and his militias, also in today's Guardian.
You might also want to check on the Guardian's collection of recent articles about Iran.
posted by Ken Wedding @ 11:03 AM
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