Could Iran Become Like Syria?

Nationwide protests in Iran have increased since last December. In recent months, various groups including truck drivers, taxi drivers, poultry farmers, livestock breeders, and other professions have held protest gatherings. In this week's viewpoints program, we discussed how far these discontentments might go and whether Iran could become 'Syria'. Touraj Atabaki, a professor and social history researcher in the Netherlands, believes that these discontentments are rooted in a significant economic crisis that has cast a shadow over all social life in Iran, turning society into a poverty-stricken one. Mr. Atabaki also states that he is not worried about Iran becoming 'Syria' because, considering various historical reasons, discussions around center-periphery, ethnic displacement, demographic shifts, cultural amalgamation, and similar issues in the last hundred years indicate that Iran will not experience the fate of nearby and distant empires and will maintain its identity. Taghi Rahmani, a political analyst, says, 'There are a series of occupational and civil protests, like those of workers who have something to lose and do not want to lose more. There are also groups that have nothing, like the protests in December. They want to protest strongly. The government calls it a rebellion, while some call it an uprising.' Mr. Rahmani rejects the idea of Iran becoming like Syria, as he believes the Iranian character is adaptable. However, he considers the danger of 'the collapse of Iran's capabilities' to be serious. He attributes this to external pressures and the policies of Ayatollah Khamenei. However, he believes that when the leaders of the Islamic Republic see they are on the verge of downfall, they will unite with the people.