Is Iran Democratizing? Reform at an Impasse

Issue Date October 2000
Volume 11
Issue 4
Page Numbers 114-128
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Once again, a reformist electoral victory has been followed by political setbacks. The key to understanding this paradoxical pattern lies in the unique theocratic constitutional structure of the Islamic Republic.

Further Reading

Volume 18, Issue 4

Iran’s Resilient Civil Society: The Untold Story of the Fight for Human Rights

Observers who focus too much on elections have failed to grasp the maturation of Iranian civil society, even as hard-liners have come to dominate the government.

Volume 26, Issue 2

The Authoritarian Resurgence: Iran Abroad

The Iranian regime has sought to recast conventional principles of human rights and political participation by forging alliances with like-minded regimes and by broadcasting its narrative to an international audience.

Volume 11, Issue 4

Is Iran Democratizing? The Role of the Intellectuals

The “Fourth Generation” of Iranian intellectuals has a vital role to play in strengthening civil society and fostering democratization.