IRAN's STRUGGLE for DEMOCRACY CONTINUES: an EVALUATION of TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AFTER the REVOLUTION by Ali Abootalebi*
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IRAN'S STRUGGLE FOR DEMOCRACY CONTINUES: AN EVALUATION OF TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AFTER THE REVOLUTION By Ali Abootalebi* The disqualification of thousands of reformist candidates by the Council of Guardians for the seventh parliamentary elections on February 20, 2004 has resulted, according to most observers, in Iran's most serious political crisis in the past twenty-five years. But is this the end of the reform movement? Even from the regime's standpoint, trying to block change altogether will lead to a build-up of problems and opposition that could eventually bring down the Islamic Republic. The disqualification of thousands of what both groups want--an Islamic reformist candidates and subsequent results Republic. of the parliamentary elections in Iran in The 2004 election ended in an February 2004 is widely viewed as a major overwhelming victory for the regime's setback, if not a deathblow, to the reformist forces, which had disqualified those who forces and their democratic agenda. The could have beaten them. The biggest pro- wave of reform efforts based on reform faction, the Islamic Iran transforming the regime through electoral Participation Front, had most of its top victories, which began with the election of leaders disqualified and did not take part. President Muhammad Khatami in 1997, is The crisis was compounded by the seen by Iranians in general as well as persistent socioeconomic problems and foreign observers as having come to an corruption faced by Iran. But in this case end, or at least a period of paralysis. there was also widespread political apathy However, the pressure for political among the youth, the cornerstone of the democracy, social reform, and economic electorate, which had swept President viability in Iran cannot be stopped. The Khatami to power in 1997 and again in population is politicized, and given the 2000. current economic and social problems, the A few days before the voting, on only viable solution for the preservation of February 11, Iran's government marked the cultural Islam and the social status of the Islamic revolution's 25th anniversary with 'ulama themselves is to allow for gradual nationwide rallies. At one of these rallies, political, economic, and social reforms to President Muhammad Khatami proclaimed forge ahead. Democratic reforms need not that the country was at a crossroads. The contradict Islam nor the fundamental role adherents of one path, he said, want to of the 'ulama as the guardians of Islam. A ignore Iran's religious and cultural identity prolonged confrontation between the more and copy the West, while those of a traditional conservative thinkers and second, extremist, path ignore people's Islamists in the regime will undermine needs, views, and votes and "under the flag of the religion and values is overtly or 38 Middle East Review of International Affairs, Vol. 8, No. 2 (June 2004) Iran's Struggle for Democracy Continues: Twenty-Five Years after the Revolution covertly struggling with freedom and improvements. After all, what kind of democracy and considers itself [to have Islamic culture can blossom where poverty the] right to decide on behalf of the people. and underdevelopment is present, popular The third way is the way of the Islamic sovereignty is ignored or suppressed and Republic of Iran in [the] true meaning of religious fanaticism is legitimated through the word. The result of our revolution was extrajudicial and/or manipulative political the Islamic Republic of Iran."(1) practices? In Iran, it seems the minority is Khatami himself, however, became a suppressing the rights of the majority subject of criticism among many through openly manipulating and abusing disappointed reformists who had hoped he democracy.(2) would refuse to endorse the elections But, as I have argued elsewhere, the unless they were free and fair. He could development of democratic ideals and have challenged Ayatollah Khamene'i, the principles--for instance, the expansion of country's spiritual guide and the strong man universal respect for the political and civil of the regime, by calling for the elections' rights of the individual--does not occur cancellation or for officials to resign over overnight but over decades and even the issue. But such moves could have led to centuries. The development of such rights in political paralysis, widespread protests, and the West itself, where modern democracy even violence. In the end, he remained true first emerged, has taken centuries to develop to his deep-rooted belief that only through into the present situation where political the rule of law and patience can the long democracy is equated with freedom. More term goal of a truly democratic Islamic important, however, to the process of Republic be realized. democratic development, the expansion of Given the changes in the past 25 years political and civil rights has been the result in the dynamics of state-society relations in of struggle and competition among Iran, the "Talibanization" of Iran is very contending groups in society (e.g., labor, unlikely, even with the conservatives' women, minorities) over political power and election victory and crackdown on the socioeconomic resources. opposition. Ultimately, the alternative to a It is only through a power struggle for the popular Islamic democracy is a religious extension of such rights that the opportunity dictatorship that in the long run will for contesting power, what Robert Dahl severely damage the 'ulama's political and called Polyarchy,(3) and eventually religious legitimacy, undermining Islam democracy can emerge. The struggle for itself and paving the way for a "Western- democracy in Iran must be understood style" secular democracy. This is within this broader context: the politics of something both conservatives and electioneering and establishing the religious-nationalist reformists would like fundamental institutional framework for to avoid. It is only through adoption of competitive politics (e.g., parliament, democratic values, institutions, procedures, presidency), despite all its shortcomings and and practices that the appropriate place of even seemingly undemocratic features (e.g., Islam in society and politics can be found. the absence of real political parties, the all Moreover, the Iranian hardliners' too-powerful office of the rahbar or velayat- insistence on Islam playing a central role in i faqih) can, in the long run, develop more politics, society, and foreign policy is democratic features. Moreover, the politics merited only if their "Islamic policies" in of electioneering on its own is educational pursuit of spiritual fulfillment are and also mobilizes the populace at large. accompanied by real socioeconomic This is not to argue that elections by Middle East Review of International Affairs, Vol. 8, No. 2 (June 2004) 39 Ali Abootalebi 40 themselves mean that a democratic state Obviously, the separation of church and exists or is on the horizon. But, it is state in the West has not led to the inconceivable for a democracy to emerge separation of religion and politics. without elections and electoral processes in However, the interplay between religion place.(4) and politics in democratic societies takes The degree of elite cooperation has been place within political and social instrumental in the development of institutions, is based on law and the democracy in Western democracies. In the consensus of the majority, and without the case of Iran and other late-developers, the suppression of minority rights. Elections sudden and rapid expansion of political are mechanisms to ensure that the line of participation coincided with immediate communication between the electorate and demands for liberalization that could easily public officials are open, so that aggregate degenerate into elite rivalry and infighting. social preferences are given due weight in The future of democracy in Iran thus relies the political process and policy decision- heavily on the resolution of the ideological making. rivalry within and among the conservative The participation of religious political and reformist political/religious elites in and parties in democratic political systems, out of government, which must have real however prone to controversy or difficult implications for the distribution of to manage in coalition building--as in socioeconomic resources and political Israel, Turkey, Lebanon, and Pakistan, power. The resolution of these differences among others--can take place without can benefit both groups by preserving their sacrificing democracy in the name of socioeconomic privileges while promoting religious preferences. Similarly, the society Iran's economic development and political as a whole must, through democratic democracy. In contrast, the failure to procedures, decide, within the prevailing cooperate can lead to continuing political socio-cultural and historical context, the paralysis, slower economic development, extent of secularization and liberalization social frustration, and relative international of social and moral values. A free and isolation. democratic Muslim society, therefore, need Democratic rules and procedures need not look and act like "excessive" liberal not necessarily be devoid of all religious societies in the West. norms, values, and moral codes. Khatami's Nevertheless, the "Islamization" of insistence on the rule of law and civil Iranian society has failed for the most part society is correct and admirable, and so is and the success of marrying Islam with his intention that Islam should play