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I ran and the Arab S pring: Why Haven't Iranians Followed the Arabs in Waging Revolution?
Author(s) -
Ahmadi Hamid
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
asian politics and policy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.193
H-Index - 12
eISSN - 1943-0787
pISSN - 1943-0779
DOI - 10.1111/aspp.12038
Subject(s) - islam , elite , political science , argument (complex analysis) , politics , ran , terrorism , sociology , law , theology , philosophy , biochemistry , chemistry , computer network , computer science
Since the beginning of the Arab S pring, the question of I ran's own political situation and its relationship to the Arab movements has become a controversial issue. This article examines the Iranian ruling elites' as well as oppositionist views of the Arab S pring, explaining why I ran has not followed its Arab counterparts in engaging a revolutionary and violent confrontation with the Islamic Republic regime. A main argument is that there is no agreement among the Iranians regarding the nature of the Arab S pring, thus situational and nationalistic considerations make Iranians hesitant to take a radical and violent move against the regime. Further, it is argued that in contrast to the expectations of the ruling elite, the empowerment of Arab Islamists brings about unexpected challenges, rather than advantages, for the Islamic Republic in I ran.