Is "Change" Also an Iranian Election Theme?

Babak Rahimi, an assistant professor of Iranian and Islamic Studies at the University of California, has been in Iran since March to cover today's elections, and files a special online exclusive report for NOW on PBS.

As I watch thousands of young Iranians energetically dance to the fast beat of techno music at a major political rally, a popular slogan can be heard from the crowd: If [the elections are]
rigged, we will raise hell in Iran!

This is the new voice of Iranian politics that has taken the country by storm over the last few weeks. Swathed in the color of green that symbolizes the nationalistic theme of rebirth and the Shi'i Islamic ideal of purity, these Iranians, mostly the younger generation born after the 1979 revolution, represent the most ardent supporters of Mir-Hussain Mousavi. A reformist candidate and a major rival to the incumbent hardliner president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Mousavi is seeking to bring a new era of reform to Iran.

For the most part, Mousavi's supporters have swarmed the streets of Tehran by the thousands every day and night, turning ordinary life into a party scene with their impromptu campaign songs and masquerade rallies. With a carnival-like attitude, young women call for equality while young men debate, and at times even engage in bloody scuffles with pro-Ahmadinejad supporters. "We want change and we want it now!" Reza, a 25 year-old student, tells me at one of the rallies in central Tehran. He then continues to dance to the loud sound of techno music while screaming anti-Ahmadinejad slogans.

Rarely have Iranian electoral seasons so openly and bluntly witnessed such high fever on the street-level. As an academic and a keen student of Iranian political history, I am reminded of the heydays of the 1979 Iranian revolution, when thousands of men and women stormed into the streets of Tehran and other major cities. They were calling for an end to the Shah's regime, which was seen by many Iranians as the embodiment of tyranny and oppression.

On my arrival to Tehran in March, I hardly felt any public interest in the June election. Unlike the U.S., the Iranian campaign season is less then a month and with such apathy in early spring, it appeared that this election would simply be like the previous one in 2005 with low voter turnout and little enthusiasm for the candidates. But the last few weeks of campaigning have simply produced the most astonishing political ambiance in Iran's post-revolutionary history; a blunt expression for change -- not any change but democratic change -- on the street level...

Read the rest of the essay here.

Comments

[jeremiahos]

If the elections are rigged, the people of Iran should raise hell.

Our elections were rigged in 2000.
In return, America will never recover.
We should have burnt this place to the ground.

[NourCA]

Well, before we cast stones, let's look at American democracy. Two parties and you need to be wealthy to run. That doesn't sound much like democracy either. Let us all be mad at our respective governments.

[shelby35]

Beats getting murdered, beat up, or jailed by the government.

Yeah the wealth factor is a bummer but Iran is still a corrupt oppressive, theocratic regime whose people want change. Can't say the same for the Saudis or Kuwaitis, though I heard Kuwait elected a female to parliament. Progress is progress.

[JerryLevy]

this is as close as Iran comes to democracy. All candidates are vetted by the ruling mullahs. Hundreds of candidates were not allowed to run in this election.

[Hammersmithman]

No matter how you sugar coat it, elections in Iran aren't democratic and while I'm impressed by the Iranian people's enthusiasm and the high turnout, it's not going to be enough. The vote is rigged. Iran's "Supreme Leader" and his henchmen in the Revolutionary guards and Basij will make sure of another four years with "Professor" Ahmadinejad, his holocaust denial, homophobia and blatant disregard of human rights.

[shelby35]

Don't be so sure. This new generation is numerous and more engaged thanks to the internet. Furthermore, the economy in Iran is even worse off with rampant inflation, 20-30% unemployment, and no economic development outside of petroleum. This could be the match to set off the Velvet Revolution like it did for Eastern and Central Europe in the Cold War. Or it can be a Tienanmen Square. Its all up in the air.