Friday
Jun052009
Video: Meanwhile in Iran - The Significance of (Presidential) Debates
Friday, June 5, 2009 at 6:06
NOW POSTED: The Video of the Ahmadinejad-Mousavi Debate in English
The other eight sections are available from the same YouTube member.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3TGHq8-SlY[/youtube]
I do not think it is an exaggeration to call the developments in Iran's Presidential campaign "extraordinary". Contrary to many stereotypes put about in the "West", this is not the Islamic Republic's first unscripted election --- both the victories of Khatami in 1997 and Ahmadinejad in 2005 were unexpected --- but the combination of issues at hand, the fervour of the candidates, and the new format of head-to-head debates amongst the candidates has generated an intensity and excitement that has been striking.
Wednesday night's debate between President Ahmadinejad and one of his challengers, Mir Hossein Mousavi, was greeted by large crowds shouting in the streets, and even Iranian journalists with whom I spoke were swept up in the excitement. In the far-from-polite discussion, Ahmadinejad turned from Mousavi to accuse politicians behind the scenes, notably former Presidents Khatami and Rafsanjani, of organising against him, and even launched an attack on Mousavi's wife. Mousavi, who appears to be gaining in strength, put forth a sustained critique of Ahmadinejad's economic and foreign policies.
Beyond this immediate contest, I have been struck by the extent of the re-examination of Iran's domestic and international position. Mousavi generated headlines for his criticism of Ahmadinejad's rhetoric on Israel and the Holocaust, but just as importantly, he was firm in putting forth the idea of engagement with the US and other countries. And this re-examination is not just occurring in Presidential campaigning: there have been a series of high-profile public discussions reconsidering long-standing Iranian policies. We'll have much more on the election and the wider issues before the first ballot on 12 June.
The other eight sections are available from the same YouTube member.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3TGHq8-SlY[/youtube]
I do not think it is an exaggeration to call the developments in Iran's Presidential campaign "extraordinary". Contrary to many stereotypes put about in the "West", this is not the Islamic Republic's first unscripted election --- both the victories of Khatami in 1997 and Ahmadinejad in 2005 were unexpected --- but the combination of issues at hand, the fervour of the candidates, and the new format of head-to-head debates amongst the candidates has generated an intensity and excitement that has been striking.
Wednesday night's debate between President Ahmadinejad and one of his challengers, Mir Hossein Mousavi, was greeted by large crowds shouting in the streets, and even Iranian journalists with whom I spoke were swept up in the excitement. In the far-from-polite discussion, Ahmadinejad turned from Mousavi to accuse politicians behind the scenes, notably former Presidents Khatami and Rafsanjani, of organising against him, and even launched an attack on Mousavi's wife. Mousavi, who appears to be gaining in strength, put forth a sustained critique of Ahmadinejad's economic and foreign policies.
Beyond this immediate contest, I have been struck by the extent of the re-examination of Iran's domestic and international position. Mousavi generated headlines for his criticism of Ahmadinejad's rhetoric on Israel and the Holocaust, but just as importantly, he was firm in putting forth the idea of engagement with the US and other countries. And this re-examination is not just occurring in Presidential campaigning: there have been a series of high-profile public discussions reconsidering long-standing Iranian policies. We'll have much more on the election and the wider issues before the first ballot on 12 June.