Pooyan Aslani
Charting a Democratic Transition in Iran: The Importance of a Non-Dominant Social Contract and the Universalization of Universal Rights
Rojin Mukriyan
Social Contract for Iran after the Islamic Republic
Susan Rakhsh
Manifesto of the Woman’s Life of Freedom Creating a Civil Society and Democracy Centered on Women
Mitra Saffari
Compassionate Politics based on Ethics of Care
Moderator: Saeed Paivandi
Pooyan Aslani: Charting a Democratic Transition in Iran: The Importance of a Non-Dominant Social Contract and the Universalization of Universal Rights
Aslani argues that Iran’s current socio-political upheavals, particularly the Women, Life, Freedom movement, present an opportunity for the creation of a new social contract based on justice and non-domination. Drawing from Philip Pettit’s Republicanism and Danielle Allen’s theory of “Justice Through Democracy,” Aslani emphasizes the importance of a society free from arbitrary domination, where no individual or group can exercise unchecked power over others.
According to Aslani, the Women, Life, Freedom movement is not solely aimed at overthrowing the current regime, but also at establishing a society that guarantees and promotes the rights and freedoms of all citizens. This vision includes gender equality, LGBTQ+ rights, religious freedom, and political autonomy for diverse regions of Iran. To achieve these goals, Aslani advocates for a new social contract that is rooted in collective dialogue and participation. He critiques previous Iranian constitutions, arguing that without a social contract, constitutions often fail, as evidenced by the constitutional developments leading up to the 1979 revolution.
The paper outlines how a new social contract for Iran can be constructed and the political, social, and economic structures it would create in a post-Islamist Iran. Aslani’s vision is one where inclusivity and equal rights form the core of a new democratic regime.
Rojin Mukriyan: Social Contract for Iran after the Islamic Republic
Mokrian’s presentation focuses on what type of political and social order should follow the fall of the Islamic Republic. She examines different theories of social agreements, including social contract theory and modus vivendi theory, comparing them to understand how Iran could achieve a sustainable and just political system in the future.
Mokrian suggests that Abdullah Öcalan’s concept of Democratic Confederalism offers an innovative foundation for post-Islamic Iran. Öcalan’s approach emphasizes decentralization, autonomy, and communal governance, which Mokrian believes could address the diverse needs of Iran’s various ethnic and cultural groups. She argues that this model of governance provides a practical and egalitarian alternative to centralized power structures and could form the basis of a new social and political order for Iran.
By emphasizing collaboration and pluralism, Mokrian envisions a post-revolutionary Iran where regional and local governance takes precedence, ensuring political participation and representation for all citizens, regardless of their background.
Susan Rakhsh: Manifesto of the Woman’s Life of Freedom Creating a Civil Society and Democracy Centered on Women
Rakhsh’s paper focuses on the pivotal role of civil society, especially women’s movements, in creating democracy in Iran. She asserts that civil society and civic movements are essential safeguards for democracy in any country, helping to hold governments accountable and ensuring that laws are implemented fairly. In non-democratic societies, however, civil society faces significant challenges, as authoritarian or totalitarian regimes resist accountability and transparency.
Iran, Rakhsh notes, has historically struggled with authoritarian rule and has never successfully developed a social contract. Despite this, civil society—particularly feminist movements—has persisted in its efforts to advocate for rights and democratic principles for over 150 years. Rakhsh argues that the Women, Life, Freedom movement is the latest expression of this long-standing struggle, and its manifesto is crucial to the creation of a civil society that is both democratic and centered on women’s rights.
In her analysis, Rakhsh looks at the period following the 1979 revolution, examining the failures to establish a truly democratic order. She then turns to the manifesto of the Women, Life, Freedom movement, which she believes offers a blueprint for building a democratic society in Iran, with women at the forefront of this transformation. This movement, according to Rakhsh, is a powerful force for change that could finally enable Iran to break free from its authoritarian past and create a new social contract that prioritizes democracy, equality, and civil rights.
Together, these scholars provide a comprehensive framework for imagining a democratic future for Iran. Aslani emphasizes the importance of a non-dominating social contract, Mokrian offers an innovative governance model through Democratic Confederalism, and Rakhsh highlights the essential role of civil society and women’s movements in achieving democracy. All three agree that the Women, Life, Freedom movement is a transformative force, not just for overthrowing the current regime, but for establishing a just and democratic society where the rights of all citizens are respected.
Abstract
Mitra Saffari
Compassionate Politics based on Ethics of Care
The revolutionary movement “Women, Life, Freedom,” which emerged in September 2022 after the death of Zhina (Mahsa) Amini in the custody of the Islamic Republic’s morality police, marks a new chapter in Iran’s history of struggle.
This movement follows forty-four years of resistance, protests, social and political movements, and non-movements. The profound social and cultural impacts of this revolutionary movement are significant, and despite the brutal suppression by the Islamic Republic, the movement continues to persist in various forms of protest. Furthermore, this repression has not prevented the continuation of protests by labor and teacher unions and other associations across the country.
Given the shorter intervals between protests and the growth of civil and labor, teacher and other associations protest movements in Iran, the hope for deep changes and the creation of a better future is more alive than ever. However, realizing this hope requires a precise identification of the threats and challenges facing the movement, as well as the development of new, democratic, and inclusive strategies to overcome these obstacles.
This article argues that the failure of 20th-century revolutions, the rise of regional wars, the surge of the far-right globally, and the distancing youth and social activists from political engagement stem from the dominance of authoritarianism in politics. The article emphasizes that it is essential to redefine politics in a way that is based on compassion, empathy, participation, and respect for human dignity.
Jimi Hendrix, the songwriter and singer, says, “When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.”
The tyranny-ridden history of Iran shows that the love of power has led to exclusivity, elimination, xenophobia, totalitarianism, corruption, and injustice. Such politics have claimed many precious lives, scarred countless bodies and souls, destroyed the environment, increased widespread poverty and structural discrimination, and ultimately led to the downfall of those obsessed with power.
The article presents the characteristics of power-based politics, which focuses on domination and control, and contrasts it with love-based politics. Power-based politics, through divisiveness and incitement of hostilities to maintain power, leads to corruption, injustice, and the neglect of people’s needs. In contrast, love-based politics emphasizes human principles, empathy, compassion, and justice.
Politicians committed to the power of love focus on serving society and enhancing public welfare rather than expanding personal power. They reject violence and vengeance as political tools and resolve conflicts through dialogue and peaceful cooperation. This type of politics can lead to the creation of more just and sustainable societies.
Implementing this type of politics requires a networked organizational model that brings together active forces within the movement to define and develop the framework of a social contract based on compassionate politics.
The article suggests that academics, researchers, legal experts, specialists in various fields, and political and social activists play a crucial role in shaping the framework of a new social contract. By expanding this contract through public participation, threats such as authoritarianism, exclusivity, elimination, and xenophobia can be identified, and political processes based on compassion can be developed to address them. This approach can lead to the formation of effective discourses and political platforms to achieve goals such as freedom, participatory democracy, secularism, and sustainable development.
To access the full version of some of the articles presented by the speakers of this panel, click on the link below.
