democracy & iran

Iran embodies 21st-century world politics: a geriatric, Islamic, post-revolutionary, nuclear state amidst a youthful, idea-hungry, proto-democratic, networked society. Iranians - from Tehran to Los Angeles via Berlin - rethink their country’s identity and future on openDemocracy.

Friday 15th January

Iran 2010-11: four scenarios and a nightmare

Volker Perthes, 15 January 2010

The path to a resolution of Iran’s internal political crisis and its international nuclear confrontation is uncertain. Volker Perthes outlines four possible ways forward.

Friday 11th December

Voices of a new Iran

R Tousi, 11 December 2009

The young student protesters flocking in defiance onto the streets and campuses of Iran are prepared to fight until the end, says R Tousi.

Tuesday 8th December

Iran's pre-revolutionary rupture

Nazenin Ansari, 8 December 2009

The continuing, defiant protest-wave in Iran accentuates the ferocious crisis of legitimacy at the regime’s heart. The epic events of 2009 are at a historic turning-point, says Nazenin Ansari.

Thursday 17th September

Iran's unfinished crisis

Nazenin Ansari, 17 September 2009

The post-election political contest over the future of Iran is approaching a climax

Tuesday 25th August

Iran: revolution for the hereafter

Aziz Motazedi, 25 August 2009

A young generation's defiant innocence is a potent weapon against the regime's brute power

Wednesday 19th August

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: a political shadow

Hossein Bastani, 19 August 2009

The most dangerous enemies of Iran's hardline president are on his own side of the spectrum

Friday 7th August

Iran: revolution beyond caricature

Rasool Nafisi, 7 August 2009

The Tehran elite's tough response to protest is driven by fear of the echoes of 1979 in 2009

Friday 17th July

Iran's tide of history: counter-revolution and after

Fred Halliday, 17 July 2009

Iran's regime seeks to crush its protesting citizens. But they are writing a new chapter in history

Thursday 9th July

Arabs and the Iranian upheaval

Hazem Saghieh, 9 July 2009

Their view of Tehran highlights the Arabs' missed political chances and false trails

Tuesday 7th July

Iran: a green wave for life and liberty

Asef Bayat, 7 July 2009

The Tehran regime's brute power cannot forever deter an insurgent tide of protest

Thursday 2nd July

The archaeology of Iran’s regime

Mahmood Delkhasteh, 2 July 2009

Iran's inner elite now seek to rule without and against its people

Plus: dialectic of revolution, Hazem Saghieh; Khamenei's role, Ali Reza Eshraghi; A stolen election, Farhang Jahanpour; A voice for Iran, Kamin Mohammadi; A coming storm, Hossein Bastani; A step back, Reza Molavi; Iranian voices on the crisis

Monday 29th June