The Persian Paradox: Iran Is Much More Modern Than You Think

It’s a mistake to judge a nation by its most vocal extremists. Iran, a country of 80 million, is young, diverse, urbanized and entrepreneurial. The literacy rate is 85 percent and many Iranians pursue advanced degrees. The country’s ranking for inequality is near that of the United States. “There are few countries in the world that are subjected to as much Western prejudice and misunderstanding as Iran,” writes Erich Follath for Spiegel Online. “With the exception of Israel, there is unlikely any other country in the Middle East where pro-Western sentiment is as pronounced as it is in Iran.” Harsh edicts from ruling mullahs have put religion into decline among the wider population. Politics won’t change quickly with the entrenched economic power of military groups like the Revolutionary Guard. Sanctions imposed by the West over Iran’s nuclear program did little to punish the powerful and instead pummeled the middle class. Follath concludes, “one thing that connects all Iranians, regardless of their political leanings: pride in their own culture and fear the country will be humiliated.” No doubt, many in the United States and Europe would get along well with many in Iran. – YaleGlobal