When "democrats" are afraid of democratic choice
More on the historic address by Reza Pahlavi and reactions to it
A week after the historic address by Reza Pahlavi to the Iranian people, the reactions to the address revealed the positions of various Iranian political movements and seemingly draw a line.
The address has had a galvanising affect on the majority of the Iranian Diaspora who are monarchist and patriotic, and the pro-Pahlavi chants in protests continue as they have ever since protests began. This has been too much for opponents of Reza Pahlavi and patriotic Iranians. The address, to be sure, differed somewhat in tone from some recent addresses made. Reza Pahlavi did emphasise the need for unity, solidarity and greater coordination in protest movements to bring down the regime.
The negative response from leftist, republican and Mosadeghist groups is predictable and makes a mockery of any calls for unity. It does seem that some back-peddled a little bit on it (as shown in the second tweet), but what it does show is that it also makes a mockery of their claimed “democratic” credentials. These are, after all, the successors to the opponents of the Pahlavi monarchy who helped Khomeini come to power in 1979, only to find that there was no place for them in the Islamic theocracy that was created.
They say they oppose the leadership of Reza Pahlavi and the idea of a constitutional monarchy which has been proposed. Reza Pahlavi and the monarchists have maintained the final form of government would be decided when the regime is overthrown through a democratic process. The reality is that the anti-Pahlavi forces are aware that Iranians, for obvious reasons, have already rejected them and that any free election will confirm Iranians’ support for a return of the monarchy.
Are they really afraid of a democratic choice being freely exercised by the electorate in Iran because they know the results will never work in their favour? Do they find it hard to understand that representative government means being able to contest an election? To elect representatives to Parliament? The same can be said for ethnic activists who think Iran should adopt an example that won’t work for Iran or the region generally.
In short, “progressive” groups who offer an ideological perspective increasingly rejected throughout the region, are also finding it hard to accept that a democratic process will not deliver them a favourable outcome which they must respect. Accepting the choice of the people and abiding by the rules is the essence of democracy. The opponents of Reza Pahlavi and monarchism are not demonstrating any sort of democratic behaviour.