Civil society in Iran, transition into which direction? : challenges, opportunities and strategies
Document type: report
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Abstract:
In the face of organizational limitations and roadblocks, parts of civil society in Iran have enjoyed significant growth over the past few decades. Recently, however, autocratic powers planned and executed
an extensive attack on it. At present, civil society is in a hazardous situation. This is as a combined result of the following: The emergence of a new class of politicians; the formation of a garrison-based government the involvement of the established Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) in politics, economy,culture, and cyber space and the prevalence of anti-democratic, civil society phobic discourse. This study is based on interviews and discussions with a number of Iranian civil society activists. The focal point of the study is to identify the transitional orientation of civil society in such a dangerous situation. The study includes a situational analysis of the present state of civil society in Iran. It defines strategic challenges and gives an assessment of the strengths and weaknesses, threats, and opportunities. Furthermore, it offers proposals in order to transform weaknesses into strength and threats into opportunities in order to prevent the premature death of Iran’s civil society.
Authors:
Razzaghi, S.
Series Title:
Knowledge Programme Civil Society in West Asia Working Paper
Country:
Iran, Islamic Republic of
Serial number:
16
ISSN:
2210-3473
Keywords:
civil society
,
democratisation
Language:
eng
Organization:
Hivos – Humanist Institute for Development Cooperation
Organization:
UvA - University of Amsterdam
PAGE:
50
Place:
The Hague [etc.]
Publisher:
Hivos [etc.]
Year:
2010
Region:
Western Asia
Right:
© 2010 Hivos & University of Amsterdam
Subject:
Social and Political Change
Title:
Civil society in Iran, transition into which direction? : challenges, opportunities and strategies