Challenges in Iran’s Political Development
Iran is one of the countries that has never been colonized. Still, foreign actors’ interest remains influential concerning its national and political development. During the lecture, it was correctly admitted that Iranian oil is both a blessing and a curse for the country. Regular access to oil means that the Iranian government is able to increase its monetary resources. However, non-democratic political regimes are never favorable for ordinary people, and most profits go directly to state power (rich people become richer and poor people remain poor). Unequal incomes, undermined democracy, unemployment in the private sector, and inequality prevent political progress, and oil is the root problem.
Oil Production
At the end of the 1900s, external influences related to the collapse of oil prices and falling oil production reduced public investments and weakened governmental control (Golkar, 2019, p. 523). Therefore, it is right to say that oil and other natural energy resource reserves have become one of the main factors that complicate the progress of the Iranian state.
Geography and National Borders
Another important issue is the country’s geostrategic location and the permanence of the natural borders. Being located in Southwest Asia and having both land and maritime borders helped Iran preserve its “unique identity through the ages” (Golkar, 2019, p. 520). In addition, the country’s central region is on a high plateau surrounded by two large deserts.
On the one hand, such a location is not beneficial for agricultural activities. On the other hand, this strategic position allows the country to protect its government and leadership from external involvement and to use direct access to the Persian Gulf. Iran has become an important country in terms of developing trade relationships and exporting petroleum and natural gas to other countries. Thus, the geostrategic location might create additional problems for the Iranian state under the pressure of an authoritarian monarchy and the current theocracy.
Reference
Golkar, S. (2019). Islamic Republic of Iran. In S. Yom (Ed.), Government and politics of the Middle East and North Africa (pp. 509-541). Routledge.