IRAN - The Generation Gap.The driving forces behind the new revolution comprise mainly of the youth. Theologians who have seen the changes in the mindset mind·set or mind-set n. 1. A fixed mental attitude or disposition that predetermines a person's responses to and interpretations of situations. 2. An inclination or a habit. of the younger generation, and who understand its implications, are the ones calling for change. They are the ones referred to as "liberals" or "reformers", and they themselves are very often relatively young. In fact, they are riding the wave of public opinion, which is overwhelmingly youthful. Iranian intellectuals List of Iranian Intellectuals A
The post-revolutionary period in Iran has seen the mobilisation of the population, creating some political and economic space for young educated males and females from all socio-economic backgrounds - a space they did not have before. The relatively democratised environment in the post-Khomeini era has helped energize en·er·gize v. en·er·gized, en·er·giz·ing, en·er·giz·es v.tr. 1. To give energy to; activate or invigorate: "His childhood the intellectuals and professionals who have been on the forefront of the drive for liberalisation n. 1. Same as liberalization. Noun 1. liberalisation - the act of making less strict liberalization, relaxation alleviation, easement, easing, relief - the act of reducing something unpleasant (as pain or annoyance); "he asked the nurse and for the consolidation of democratic practises. Ironically, much of the changes in the fabric of Iranian society, prompting the drive toward a more liberal democracy, have been the result of policies promoted by the theocracy theocracy Government by divine guidance or by officials who are regarded as divinely guided. In many theocracies, government leaders are members of the clergy, and the state's legal system is based on religious law. Theocratic rule was typical of early civilizations. itself. For example, even during the Iran-Iraq war Iran-Iraq War, 1980–88, protracted military conflict between Iran and Iraq. It officially began on Sept. 22, 1980, with an Iraqi land and air invasion of western Iran, although Iraqi spokespersons maintained that Iran had been engaging in artillery attacks on of 1980-88 - perhaps because of strategic considerations related to the conflict - the building of schools and roads between rural areas and the towns, the electrification e·lec·tri·fy tr.v. e·lec·tri·fied, e·lec·tri·fy·ing, e·lec·tri·fies 1. To produce electric charge on or in (a conductor). 2. a. of the villages, and the building of public facilities such as hospitals houses, etc. was undertaken on a war footing. This accelerated the process of development and empowerment of the traditionally poor and powerless. Education, too, has played a critical role. Due to the pervasive educational system put in place by the theocracy, the youth of Iran are more literate than they were during the Shah's era. The young generation is also better educated on the whole, at least in the case of groups from the lower and lower middle class and particularly in rural areas. As a result, the youth today are more opinionated o·pin·ion·at·ed adj. Holding stubbornly and often unreasonably to one's own opinions. [Probably from obsolete opinionate : opinion + -ate1. and more demanding, and such an attitude is facilitated by the greater political freedoms they have come to take for granted in the current system. The younger generation is much more politically aware than the one that took part in the 1979 revolution because it is no longer idealistic i·de·al·is·tic adj. Of, relating to, or having the nature of an idealist or idealism. i  de·al·is , having
experienced the harsh facts of life resulting from two decades of
economic difficulties. As a result, they are openly demanding (a)
results from their elected representatives in terms of the
socio-economic development, and (b) reasons from their leaders on
foreign policy decisions that were hitherto considered out of the public
sphere The public sphere is a concept in continental philosophy and critical theory that contrasts with the private sphere, and is the part of life in which one is interacting with others and with society at large. of influence.
This aspect of the "new revolution" is spread throughout Iran. After two decades of socio-cultural policies implemented by the Khomeini revolution, Iranians are culturally more homogeneous than ever before: even in remote areas, young children speak and write in Persian, including ethnic regions like Azerbaijan, Baluchistan, Kurdistan, and the predominantly Arab area of south-eastern Khuzistan. So theocrats across the country are facing similar aspirations aspirations npl → aspiraciones fpl (= ambition); ambición f aspirations npl (= hopes, ambition) → aspirations fpl from the youth, and so far the traditionalists have not found a way to adequately satisfy these aspirations. The liberals by the late 1990s stepped into the vacuum and have for the past few years been offering them the possibility of something different. Consequently the youth have voted overwhelmingly for the reformist line. President Khatami is most popular, for instance, with the younger generation and the female voters. The traditionalists would find themselves under immense pressure if they do not find a way to satisfy the youth and bridge the generation gap. It is unlikely they will be able to do this without compromising on some of their revolutionary ideals. On the other hand, if the liberals are not able to deliver what the young generation want, the risk is that they may push the new revolution towards a more dangerous line. |
|
||||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion