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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 15-Feb-2011
15-Feb-11 News -- Tens of thousands in Iran demonstrate against government and face violence

Web Log - February, 2011

15-Feb-11 News -- Tens of thousands in Iran demonstrate against government and face violence

Clinton: Iran's government shows 'hypocrisy' after applauding Egypt's demonstrations

Tens of thousands in Iran demonstrate against government and face violence

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton criticized the "hypocrisy" of Iran's government on Monday, as the government used violent police tactics to suppress anti-government rallies in Tehran and other cities in Iran, according to VOA:

"What we see happening in Iran today is a testament to the courage of the Iranian people and an indictment of the hypocrisy of the Iranian regime - a regime, which over the last three weeks has constantly hailed what went on in Egypt. And now, when given the opportunity to afford their people the same rights as they called for on behalf of the Egyptian people, [Iran's leaders] once again illustrate their true nature."

Tens of thousands of anti-government protesters, calling for solidarity with the demonstrations in Egypt, clashed with police in central Tehran on Monday. Police fired tear gas and paintballs at protesters, according to AFP.

This was the first mass anti-government protest since 2009. The protests began following the reelection of president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in an election which many people believed was fraudulent. (See "Iran: Violent street demonstrations follow Ahmadinejad's landslide election victory.")

When the protests first erupted, almost all analysts predicted that the protests would soon end once and for all, comparing the situation in Iran to the Tiananmen Square massacre in China in 1989.

However, Tiananmen Square is the wrong comparison, since that occurred in China's generational Unraveling era, while Iran today is in a generational Awakening era. The correct historical analogy for Iran is to America's 1967 Summer of Love, and the 1968 riots and demonstrations throughout the year, including the famous demonstrations in Chicago at the Democratic Party convention. Those protests continued off and on for years, only climaxing in 1974 with the resignation of President Richard Nixon.

Every society and country goes through this experience, starting around 20-25 years after the end of the previous crisis wars. The war survivors wil have imposed austere institutions and rules supposedly to prevent a new crisis war from occurring, and this is the point when the first post-war generation comes of age, and rebels against the austerity of their parents. (See "A generational explanation of Iran's political crisis.")

Expect the anti-government protests to continue for years until they reach a climax -- probably some kind of "velvet revolution" replacing the hardline government.

(Comments: For reader comments, questions and discussion, see the 15-Feb-11 News -- Tens of thousands in Iran demonstrate against government and face violence thread of the Generational Dynamics forum. Comments may be posted anonymously.) (15-Feb-2011) Permanent Link
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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 15-Feb-2011 15-Feb-11 News -- Tens of thousands in Iran demonstrate against government and face violence

Tens of thousands in Iran demonstrate against government and face violence

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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 15-Feb-2011
15-Feb-11 News -- Tens of thousands in Iran demonstrate against government and face violence