Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

To: oslonor
Alright... I took another look at your post and my comment to it and realized I broke one of my own cardinal rules. You mentioned a number of very serious problems and in my post, I didn't offer any solutions. Suggestions are part of any good discourse so the first ones need not be perfect; at least I've never held myself to such a standard. My general suggestion is for a type of federalism for Iran. What's important is that a plausable vision be created and then an agreed upon set of steps to reach such a reality.

Federalism is the theory or advocacy of federal political orders, where final authority is divided between sub-units and a center. Unlike a unitary state, sovereignty is constitutionally split between at least two territorial levels so that units at each level have final authority and can act independently of the others in some area. Citizens thus have political obligations to two authorities. The allocation of authority between the sub-unit and center may vary, typically the center has powers regarding defense and foreign policy, but sub-units may also have international roles. The sub-units may also participate in central decision-making bodies. Much recent philosophical attention is spurred by renewed political interest in federalism, coupled with empirical findings concerning the requisite and legitimate basis for stability and trust among citizens in federations. Philosophical contributions have addressed the dilemmas and opportunities facing Canada, Australia and Europe, to mention just a few areas where federal arrangements are seen as interesting solutions to accommodating differences among populations divided by ethnic or cultural cleavages yet seeking a common political order.

Now you may or may not agree with this idea but let's go through the scenario together and discuss the problems Iran would face with federalism. Obviously this is not a comprehensive list but if one were generated, a follow-up list could be created to mitigate the negative impacts of each potential problem. Take for instance, the creation of an inter-provincial cooperation committee designed specifically to coordinate inter-provincial projects.

  1. Economic: Distribution of revenue from petroleum resources
  2. Inter-federation trade under the Bazaar system
  3. Representation: In the federal architecture how would ethnic groups be represented
  4. Language maintenance vs. dominance [media and arts funding based on ethnicity]
  5. Police and military integration to prevent corruption
  6. Provincial favoritism [equal opportunity | affirmative action]
  7. Provincial specific laws as opposed to federal laws [would Sharia still be a factor?]

These are just rough ideas but with them we can now start the kind of dialogue that could lead to the equal empowerment of Iran's populace so that the ethnic tensions you describe are less of an issue. But while I find no problem working out a basic solution to the problems you describe here, it is my experience that the majority of the inhabitants of Iran, consider themselves “Iranian”. Regardless of the province from which there people originate they do not see your issue as a central concern if they view it as a concern at all.

3 posted on 11/28/2005 3:07:51 PM PST by humint ({@}) Think about all the things you don't know you don't know ({@})
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]


To: humint

thanks for comments. People are free to marry anybody they want. But here We are dealing with a fascist regime in Tehran who uses the state to carry out racial policies. I think you are on the wrong side if you are against nazism.
oslonor


4 posted on 12/02/2005 1:38:54 PM PST by oslonor
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson