Society has its own Priorities
During the last four years, the political picture of Holland has undergone instructive changes.
During 2002, just a week before the Parliamentary elections, an extremist right-wing personality Pim Fortuyn who had a good chance of being elected to the legislature, was murdered after being shot several times in the head and neck by a young man with leftist views. This event rapidly changed the political atmosphere in favor of the victim?s political views and ideology and caused the parties in the government at the time, liberal and Christian democrats, to also shift to the right in order to better compete with their new challengers. This left a distinct mark on the policies of the governments of the time. One consequence of the murder was that the group of extreme right-wing Parliamentary candidates who supported Fortuyn and had gathered around to form the ?Fortuyn list? scored a momentous and unexpected victory in the elections, despite not having even a single seat prior to the event. They got 26 out of 150 seats in the legislature.
The resultant effect of these events was that the whole political climate in Holland turned to the right to an unprecedented degree. This strengthened the Dutch ?neo-conservatists?, increased pressures on immigrants and especially Muslims, and a closer affinity between the government and government of US President George Bush (especially regarding the war on terrorism). Obviously this produced a response from the left-wing groups and parties in Holland, which produced a kind of ideological confrontation on some issues such as foreign policy or anti-foreign views. This has been the climate in Holland for the last four years and debates over these issues stemming from such divergent poles have preoccupied Dutch politics and political parties and activists.
More recently, however, things have begun to change. Now on the eve of new parliamentary elections, one notices that tangible economic and social issues relating to the population in general are gradually replacing the ideological and cultural debates of the past four years. Instead of endless arguments over immigration, Muslims, etc, there are now more discussions on how to increase economic productivity, issues related to the aging population, labor shortage, etc.
How does this relate to Iran? Even though there is no real democracy in Iran, and therefore any comparison between events there and in Europe can be meaningless, still there are some lessons that may be applicable from the Dutch situation. In Iran a president came to power last year on the promise of economic and social (and not political or ideological) changes. But as soon as his cabinet took form, it began to instigate right-wing views in the ideological and cultural domains. The political and ideologic views and announcements of the new Iranian officials soon dominated the news headlines around the world.
A year later today, what is now increasingly occupying the energy and time of the new government in Iran are the tangible economic and social issues and demands. This stems from the pressures and demands made by the public who have still not forgotten Mr. Ahmadinejad?s promises of giving priority to their economic and social problems, as opposed to issues such as nuclear energy, or philosophizing about the Holocaust or letter-writing to heads of states around the world. Their calls are for job security, economic stability, fighting inflation, attending to social issues, and the likes.
With the continuation of the state of affairs in Iran where these tangible problems only get more compounded and acute, public opinion too shifts away from the irrelevant issues that have dominated the political and social atmosphere over the past year. One can expect that the focus of the government on hardline ideologic issues too will wane and be replaced with focus on the real economic and social issues that preoccupy the lives of ordinary people.
But a change to this new atmosphere will require new political relations and realities. Among the critics of the Iranian regime, are there those who are prepared to take up the management of the situation? It does not appear so. It appears that the debates and focus of the groups opposing and criticizing the Iranian regime too are merely response to and based on the political and ideologic behavior of the Islamic regime.
In fact, issues such as economic growth, combating corruption, fighting poverty, attending to social issues are still not the focus or part of the debates or discussions, and more importantly programs of the groups that criticize the regime in Tehran. And this is despite the fact the public continues to struggle with these issues on a daily basis, regardless of the ideologic battles and drives of the government.
This gap between the public and the elite has worked to the detriment of groups opposing the regime and has returned surprising results when the masses have had a chance to express their views in the past. Is it not the time for these groups to alter the focus of their attention and discussions to more realistic issues called on by the public?
news search
5-06-2008 Meer dan een geldkanaal
ViceVersa 42/3
Wat is de rol van het maatschappelijk middenveld bij armoedebestrijding? Farah Karimi, directeur van Oxfam Novib, geeft een eerste voorzet voor de beleidsdialoog met Buitenlandse Zaken. 'Er kan alleen synergie...
8-02-2008 Tentoonstelling inspiran
Opening van de tentoonstelling in de KunstKerk (Prinseneiland 89 te Amsterdam) op 8 februari 2008 door Farah Karimi.
1-12-2007 Farah Karimi is Oxfam Novib's new director
On February 1, 2008 Farah Karimi will begin as the new general director of Oxfam Novib. Karimi has ample experience in the field of international co-operation and human rights. She is succeeding Sylvia Borren, who has been in the...
21-11-2007 Farah Karimi nieuwe directeur van Oxfam Novib
Per 1 februari 2008 treedt Farah Karimi aan als de nieuwe algemeen directeur van Oxfam Novib. Karimi heeft een ruime staat van dienst op het gebied van internationale samenwerking en mensenrechten. Zij volgt Sylvia Borren op, die...
6-10-2007 tentoonstelling "Iran in perspectief"
De tentoonstelling Iran in Perspectief wordt zaterdag 6 oktober om 15.00 uur geopend door Farah Karimi, voormalig Tweede Kamer lid voor Groen Links. U bent hierbij van harte welkom.
1-10-2007 Farah Karimi: "Maar ik ben ook van de softie"
Wordt vervolgd Oktober 2007 - Het interview - door Rik Smits
Na acht jaar Kamerlidmaatschap voor Groen Links richt Farah Karimi zich helemaal op de landen rond de Perzische Golf. Ze pleit voor meer openheid en betrokkenheid,...
30-09-2007 Where are the Anti-War Activists?
As threats of a military strike against Iran heighten, a frightening question comes to mind: where are the world?s anti-war groups, and why are they not active enough when it comes to Iran?
15-08-2007 "Ziek van het navelstaren hier"
Farah Karimi druk met verbetering mensenrechten in de Golfstaten - Na de verkiezingen in november 2006 stapten veel Kamerleden uit de politiek, soms niet vrijwillig. Farah Karimi nam zelf het besluit: "De verbazing was weg."
13-07-2007 Oude grenzen en nieuwe levens
De grootste groep nieuwe migranten in Nederland wordt gevormd door Iraniërs. Er wonen er bijna dertigduizend in ons land. Wat hen bindt is de vlucht voor een islamitische dictatuur. ?Wees bewuster wat vrijheid betekent.?
7-07-2007 Nederlandse steun mediaprojecten in Iran gaat door
Met Nederlands geld zijn in Iran de afgelopen jaren projecten opgezet ter bevordering van de onafhankelijke journalistiek. Het regime in Teheran reageert geprikkeld. Net als Washington zou Den Haag uit zijn op regime change. Een...
19-05-2007 Een parlement vol antidemokraten
Door Harm Ede Botje, Vrij Nederland; Afghanistan Special, 19 mei 2007
Oud-kamerlid Farah Karimi (Groenlinks) werkte drie maanden als adviseur voor de Verenigde Naties in het jonge Afghaanse parlement. Zij begon vol goede moed,...
9-01-2007 Interview With Farah Karimi by Sepideh Abdi
After serving on the Dutch Parliament for three terms as the foreign policy spokeswoman for the Green Party, Farah Karimi decided not to run for Parliament this year. Instead, she plans to begin a new round of civil society...
4-01-2007 Europa grote afwezige in de Golf-regio
Europa heeft nagenoeg geen politieke invloed in de landen rond de Perzische Golf, constateert Farah Karimi. Dat is merkwaardig omdat juist Europa er belang bij heeft dat die landen zich in democratische richting ontwikkelen.
22-11-2006 argos: kernenergie en non-proliferatie
De Iraanse uraniumverrijking, de Noord-Koreaanse bomtest, de vermeende nucleaire agende van Irak: de mogelijke verspreiding van kernwapens beheerst de wereldpolitiek. Het Non Proliferatie Verdrag uit 1968, het verdrag dat die...
1-10-2006 Where is the Accountability?
The behavior of state officials in the world arena can be viewed as a reflection of the peculiarities of their country?s domestic political system.
At this year?s annual General Assembly meeting of the United Nations, I...
10-09-2006 Society has its own Priorities
During the last four years, the political picture of Holland has undergone instructive changes.
During 2002, just a week before the Parliamentary elections, an extremist right-wing personality Pim Fortuyn who had a good chance...
25-07-2006 Meet Farah Karimi
Photo essay: Dutch member of parliament wants to promote human rights through the media
11-07-2006 When Slogans Attain Supreme Priority
It is now one week that New York is witness to a United Nations conference on Small Arms Trafficking. This is the second such conference after the first on in 2001 which looks at the 5-year performance of countries in their...
27-04-2006 Only US and Iran
In the spirit of Easter, last week brought the opportunity for European peace-activists to hold anti-war demonstration, like they do every year.
This year?s peace demonstrations took place in different countries in Europe in...
19-03-2006 We Must Act Today
The government of Iran faces hard days ahead in its relations with the world community. With its rejection of the Russian enrichment proposal, Iran?s rulers are now completely isolated diplomatically. Because from now on, Russia...
Meer dan een geldkanaal
ViceVersa 42/3
Wat is de rol van het maatschappelijk middenveld bij armoedebestrijding? Farah Karimi, directeur van Oxfam Novib, geeft een eerste voorzet voor de beleidsdialoog met Buitenlandse Zaken. 'Er kan alleen synergie...
Tentoonstelling inspiran
Opening van de tentoonstelling in de KunstKerk (Prinseneiland 89 te Amsterdam) op 8 februari 2008 door Farah Karimi.
Farah Karimi is Oxfam Novib's new director
On February 1, 2008 Farah Karimi will begin as the new general director of Oxfam Novib. Karimi has ample experience in the field of international co-operation and human rights. She is succeeding Sylvia Borren, who has been in the...
Farah Karimi nieuwe directeur van Oxfam Novib
Per 1 februari 2008 treedt Farah Karimi aan als de nieuwe algemeen directeur van Oxfam Novib. Karimi heeft een ruime staat van dienst op het gebied van internationale samenwerking en mensenrechten. Zij volgt Sylvia Borren op, die...
tentoonstelling "Iran in perspectief"
De tentoonstelling Iran in Perspectief wordt zaterdag 6 oktober om 15.00 uur geopend door Farah Karimi, voormalig Tweede Kamer lid voor Groen Links. U bent hierbij van harte welkom.
Farah Karimi: "Maar ik ben ook van de softie"
Wordt vervolgd Oktober 2007 - Het interview - door Rik Smits
Na acht jaar Kamerlidmaatschap voor Groen Links richt Farah Karimi zich helemaal op de landen rond de Perzische Golf. Ze pleit voor meer openheid en betrokkenheid,...
Where are the Anti-War Activists?
As threats of a military strike against Iran heighten, a frightening question comes to mind: where are the world?s anti-war groups, and why are they not active enough when it comes to Iran?
"Ziek van het navelstaren hier"
Farah Karimi druk met verbetering mensenrechten in de Golfstaten - Na de verkiezingen in november 2006 stapten veel Kamerleden uit de politiek, soms niet vrijwillig. Farah Karimi nam zelf het besluit: "De verbazing was weg."
Oude grenzen en nieuwe levens
De grootste groep nieuwe migranten in Nederland wordt gevormd door Iraniërs. Er wonen er bijna dertigduizend in ons land. Wat hen bindt is de vlucht voor een islamitische dictatuur. ?Wees bewuster wat vrijheid betekent.?
Nederlandse steun mediaprojecten in Iran gaat door
Met Nederlands geld zijn in Iran de afgelopen jaren projecten opgezet ter bevordering van de onafhankelijke journalistiek. Het regime in Teheran reageert geprikkeld. Net als Washington zou Den Haag uit zijn op regime change. Een...
Een parlement vol antidemokraten
Door Harm Ede Botje, Vrij Nederland; Afghanistan Special, 19 mei 2007
Oud-kamerlid Farah Karimi (Groenlinks) werkte drie maanden als adviseur voor de Verenigde Naties in het jonge Afghaanse parlement. Zij begon vol goede moed,...
Interview With Farah Karimi by Sepideh Abdi
After serving on the Dutch Parliament for three terms as the foreign policy spokeswoman for the Green Party, Farah Karimi decided not to run for Parliament this year. Instead, she plans to begin a new round of civil society...
Europa grote afwezige in de Golf-regio
Europa heeft nagenoeg geen politieke invloed in de landen rond de Perzische Golf, constateert Farah Karimi. Dat is merkwaardig omdat juist Europa er belang bij heeft dat die landen zich in democratische richting ontwikkelen.
argos: kernenergie en non-proliferatie
De Iraanse uraniumverrijking, de Noord-Koreaanse bomtest, de vermeende nucleaire agende van Irak: de mogelijke verspreiding van kernwapens beheerst de wereldpolitiek. Het Non Proliferatie Verdrag uit 1968, het verdrag dat die...
Where is the Accountability?
The behavior of state officials in the world arena can be viewed as a reflection of the peculiarities of their country?s domestic political system.
At this year?s annual General Assembly meeting of the United Nations, I...
Society has its own Priorities
During the last four years, the political picture of Holland has undergone instructive changes.
During 2002, just a week before the Parliamentary elections, an extremist right-wing personality Pim Fortuyn who had a good chance...
Meet Farah Karimi
Photo essay: Dutch member of parliament wants to promote human rights through the media
When Slogans Attain Supreme Priority
It is now one week that New York is witness to a United Nations conference on Small Arms Trafficking. This is the second such conference after the first on in 2001 which looks at the 5-year performance of countries in their...
Only US and Iran
In the spirit of Easter, last week brought the opportunity for European peace-activists to hold anti-war demonstration, like they do every year.
This year?s peace demonstrations took place in different countries in Europe in...
We Must Act Today
The government of Iran faces hard days ahead in its relations with the world community. With its rejection of the Russian enrichment proposal, Iran?s rulers are now completely isolated diplomatically. Because from now on, Russia...