Al-Ahram Weekly | Opinion | Iran's democratic upsurge

Al-Ahram Weekly Opinion Iran's democratic upsurge


Allow me to preface my analysis of this article by explaining that it was written by Hamid Dabashi. He is an Iranian-American who was born and raised in Iran. He was educated in his native home as well as in the U.S. He is extremely intelligent and informed; he holds degrees from University of Pennsylvania and Harvard. He currently teaches at Columbia University in New York, New York. Dabashi lectures around the world and is a cultural critic. His experitise is in cinema and post colonialism. He is also a frequent contributor to Al-Ahram.

Dabashi has also been open in interviews as not being particularly found of the Israeli's and more or less has described the nation as a puppet for western ideology and agendas. Thus, this is crucial to know and take into consideration before reading his analysis of the election and his criticisms of the west.

Intrestingly enough Dabashi does not dissmiss the fact that the election outcome could have resulted from fruad or corruption unlike a previous post of mine. In fact he almost mentions it as a matter of fact. Instead he quicky turns to highly the democratic ways in which the people of Iran have begun to exersise their ability to vote. He also notes that the tide is changing among the people. The youth of the nation do not remember the revolution and are moving away from the radical aspects and embracing the conservative take on politics. YET, Dabashi is mention Obama's use of "imposing" democracy on the region constantly and that the democractic advances of Iran are not well recieved by US/Israeli forces. The author is sure to mention that these forces have invested much time into justifing bombing Iran and portraying it at sheer evil; consquently the Iran change toward democratic ways is "slap in the face" they ought to proud of.

It seems as if Dabashi is in favor of this more toward democracy to spite the US/Israeli forces instead of for the betterment of his homeland. I could be wrong in that assumtion, yet it is intriguing that a man so supportive of his country and exposing the "truth" did not return there to educate others. I would also be curious as to why his family moved him here to begin with. He is clearly educated and has found success in the states, however it is also clear, through his connotaion, this man views himself as Iranian before American.