Why Many Iranians Actually Support Their Regime
An analysis of why a segment of Iran's population backs the ayatollahs' regime, based on Shia history and past persecution. Data and arguments.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
Iran's regime: why does it still enjoy popular support?
Since 1979, the ayatollahs have held power in Iran thanks to a hard core of the population. The Western narrative insists that Iranians hate their regime, but an analysis of Shia history reveals deep reasons for that support. It is not just about repression: centuries of persecution have forged an identity that the regime skillfully exploits.
Centuries of persecution and Shia identity
The division of Sarracin into Sunnis and Shias is not a mere theological dispute. Shias have been persecuted and killed for centuries, which has created a culture of martyrdom and resistance. Iran's regime presents itself as the defender of the oppressed, tapping into that historical memory. The figure of the martyr is central: when a religious elder dies, he becomes a martyr, fueling prophecies about the coming of the Imam Mahdi, a warrior who will come to behead the oppressors. This narrative is not marginal; it mobilizes entire sectors.
The doctrine of self-sufficiency
Another pillar of support is the Shia doctrine of national self-sufficiency, reinforced by the 1953 coup against Mosaddeq, orchestrated by the United States. The current regime promises to depend on no one, and it has transferred technology to countries like Venezuela to prove it. "Let us depend on no one but ourselves" is a slogan that resonates among those who distrust the West.
Persian pride vs. rejection of the regime
But not everything is support. An opposing stance distinguishes between Persian pride —which is real— and the crappy regime they have, as one analyst put it. The regime has a hard core of support, but not necessarily a majority. The prophecy of the Imam Mahdi can be read as hope for change or as a tool of control.
What is clear is that support cannot be explained by propaganda alone. Shia history, persecution and the messianic promise give the regime a base that the West underestimates. The question is whether that base will be enough when real change comes.
Related discussions in the forum
Since 1979, the ayatollahs have held power in Iran thanks to a hard core of the population. The Western narrative insists that Iranians hate their regime, but an analysis of Shia history reveals deep reasons for that support. It is not just about repression: centuries of persecution have forged an identity that the regime skillfully exploits.
Centuries of persecution and Shia identity
The division of Sarracin into Sunnis and Shias is not a mere theological dispute. Shias have been persecuted and killed for centuries, which has created a culture of martyrdom and resistance. Iran's regime presents itself as the defender of the oppressed, tapping into that historical memory. The figure of the martyr is central: when a religious elder dies, he becomes a martyr, fueling prophecies about the coming of the Imam Mahdi, a warrior who will come to behead the oppressors. This narrative is not marginal; it mobilizes entire sectors.
The doctrine of self-sufficiency
Another pillar of support is the Shia doctrine of national self-sufficiency, reinforced by the 1953 coup against Mosaddeq, orchestrated by the United States. The current regime promises to depend on no one, and it has transferred technology to countries like Venezuela to prove it. "Let us depend on no one but ourselves" is a slogan that resonates among those who distrust the West.
Persian pride vs. rejection of the regime
But not everything is support. An opposing stance distinguishes between Persian pride —which is real— and the crappy regime they have, as one analyst put it. The regime has a hard core of support, but not necessarily a majority. The prophecy of the Imam Mahdi can be read as hope for change or as a tool of control.
What is clear is that support cannot be explained by propaganda alone. Shia history, persecution and the messianic promise give the regime a base that the West underestimates. The question is whether that base will be enough when real change comes.
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Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (7 replies).
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