IRAN'S INFLUENCE

Iran's Influence



Iran's Influence

A Religious-Political State and Society in Its Region

Introduction

Over the past three decades, Iran has emerged as a religio­political state - a state that is both religious and emphasizes nationalist and anti-imperialist ideologies. Iran's influence reflects how various communities in different countries perceive Iran's foreign policy in contrast to US foreign policy. Despite diverse religious and nationalist identities, in the face of the 'war on terror', neoliberalism, neoconservative and Zionism, a majority in the Middle East identify with Iran's stance against the USA and Israel.

This research contextualizes the internal political dynamics of Iran and the influence of Iran in Lebanon, Iraq, Palestine and Egypt, within the wider historical context of colonialism, imperialism and Zionism. Subsequently, it discusses the impact of socioeconomic development, nationalisms, Islamism's and the political trajectory of these experiences, which have produced distinct changes in each of these societies.

The Internal Dynamics of Iran

Most analysts in the West portray Iran simply as a religiously conservative 'fundamentalist' phenomenon, ignoring the very real socioeconomic achievements brought about by the 1979 revolution. To ignore this side of Iran's development is a mistake, since it is the socioeconomic transformation that has brought about the powerful democracy movement in the country, including women's rights, student and trade union activism. (Bashiriyeh, Hossein, 2004, pp. 112-115

Throughout the late twentieth century, and to date, there have been contradictory shifts and changes in both the economy and the society of Iran. Following the 1979 revolution, the Islamic state distributed wealth and provided social welfare to the majority of the population. This was in contrast to the secular pro­West state of the Shah in the 1960s and 1970s, which served only to enrich small elite and did little to develop the rest of the country. The economy of Iran depends on its oil revenues - 80 per cent of total state income is from oil. (Christopher, Warren, 2005, pp. 95-101)

Since the 1990 s, Iran has gone through continuous and large-scale socioeconomic and human development. Economic development has led to urbanization (70 per cent), a greater rate of literacy (89 per cent in urban areas, 75 per cent in rural) and the emergence of a modern working class. The presence of a young, ethnically integrated and educated population with different levels of religiosity and secularity is clearly visible, with increasing participation of women in public life. Such people are challenging the very state that has brought about these developments. The relative improvement in health, education and employment has raised people's socio­political consciousness and aspirations, and has led to the further development of women's, student and workers' organizations. (Bamdad, Badr ol-Muluk, 1997, pp. 24-26)

Grassroots democracy in Iran

In the 1990, pressure from below lead to the election of the reformist government of Mohammad Khatami (1997 -2005). This was a period of expansion and of the empowerment of civil society organizations, media and social movements. The, more progressive elements within the reform movement called for a massive extension of democracy. The Islamist modernists or 'religious new thinkers' are a vital ...