1) Ideological. The success of reform candidates has only been possible because of work going on for a number of years within Iranian islam, reframing concepts of the relationship of the religious and the secular. The debate has largely been won that there is need for a "civil society" "within" islam. This in practice means a separation of church and state and a more pluralist society.
2) Economic. Fundamentalist islam represented the most radical nationalist opposition to US imperialism and the US dominated global capitalist economy. This in a society undergoing very rapid and very substantial industrial and social change. It is understood that the victory for the reformists will produce detente in relations with the USA even though in principle opposition to the nature of US society will be maintained.
In practice Iran is joining the global culture putting emphasis on civil rights in civil society and the opposition to US hegemony will have to take different forms.
The signal this gives the rest of the islamic world is substantial. Iran is no longer the nerve centre of radical anti-imperialist islam. Currently the war in Chechnya against a new Russian imperialism is the sharpest contradiction for islam.
Chris Burford
London