The Struggle for Workers’ Democracy in Iran
Introductory Note: The disputed election for the presidency of the Islamic Republic of Iran took place on June 12, 2009. Since then, a great deal of information has been available on the Internet, but it is difficult to determine how accurate a lot of it is. Many anti-imperialist activists observe the hostility of the Western governments to the Islamic Republic and question whether the democratic struggle in Iran is genuine or whether it is the creation of the CIA, British MI6, or other imperialist forces. It appears clear that the educated youth in the major cities of Iran are supporting the demonstrations against the declared election winner, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad; however, it is only the educated youth who are using the Internet to share their thoughts. It is more difficult to gauge the sentiments of the working class and the poor people of the city slums and rural villages. However, the repressive and socially reactionary character of the Islamic Republic is beyond doubt. What appears on this page represents different points of view within the socialist, labor, and democratic movements, both in Iran and in other countries. The discussion of this very complicated political situation has only begun, as indeed the new struggle for workers’ democracy in Iran has only begun. We begin here with a preliminary selection of articles; more will be published as they are written and as the struggle evolves.
—Tom Barrett, co-Managing Editor and Webmaster, Labor Standard
Iran’s
Revolution
by Mehrdad Samadzadeh
The Tragedy of
the Left's Discourse on Iran
by Saeed Rahnema
Political Islam in the Service
of Imperialism
by Samir Amin
Ahmedinajad and
the Anti-Imperialism of Fools
by Farooq Sulehria
Iran and America: The Will to Change
by Yacov Ben Efrat
Ten Immediate
Demands of the People of Iran
from the Worker-communist Party of Iran
Iran Rises
A Blog by Evan Siegel
Iran: Regime Steps Up Terror — a General Strike is Needed!
by Alan Woods
Whither
Iran?
by Babak Zahraie
Between Revolt and Repression in Iran
by Lee Sustar
Vahed Syndicate [Tehran Bus Drivers Union]— Any Suppression or Threat of Civil Liberty Condemned
Tehran’s Auto Workers and Bus Syndicate in Solidarity with People’s Movement