Iran’s situation is bleak. Discussion of the constitution and the country’s future, both among the opposition and inside Iran, seems so caught up in factional divisions and emotional reactions that little room remains for serious conversation. Iranian media, too, must face this question: does the way they address this subject match its importance?
Our concern is not which expert is paid and which is not; it is the content of the discussion and how it is conducted. Five minutes on the social contract, ten minutes on a historical example, and then moving on to the next topic are not enough to examine an issue of this importance.
To make an informed choice, we need to be able to follow an argument from its initial claim through criticism and response. We need to understand what the disagreement is about and what each proposal would mean for people’s lives and rights. Without that opportunity, the audience encounters a series of opinions without the chance to weigh them.
In the first Federalist paper, Alexander Hamilton raised this question: can people establish good government through reflection and choice, or must their political fate remain dependent on accident and force?
The Iran, Life, Liberty project proceeds from this concern. Rasme No and the Constitution Comparison page are two parts of the project. In Rasme No’s conversations and podcasts, we want to take the time to examine arguments and respond to criticism. On the comparison page, we place texts and proposals side by side so that we can ask: how does each proposal distribute power? What limits does it place on that power? And how can people hold those who exercise power accountable?
We invite you to take part. Leave comments, raise questions and criticisms, and offer suggestions. By working together, we want to help define a new order for Iran based on justice and equality. Your comments and criticism can help correct the course of this work and move it forward.
Continuing this independent work takes time, research, and sustained support. If you consider it necessary and can afford to contribute, please support it with $5 or $10 a month. Your contribution will support research and review, the preparation of Rasme No’s conversations and podcasts, and the maintenance and improvement of the Constitution Comparison page.