It is not my contention that Iran is a model of socialism. What the Iranians have is a result of social revolution that, like all revolutions, has its virtues and vices, and its virtues must be explained and defended, just as reforms must be made to solve or mitigate its problems. It's the job of would-be regime changers to focus on problems and problems alone, to make it sound as if the country were on the verge of economic or political collapse when it isn't, to convince themselves as well as others that it is "ripe for counter-revolution" in the clarifying language of The Economist. But you can't see any virtue of Iran's Islamic Revolution in the liberal and leftist media. It's better to read the business press against its grain, figuring out what the capitalist class, Iranian as well as foreign, want to destroy, and what the working class must defend, from the business press's description.
In the real world, socialism can't be a "model" that you conceive in your mind and then put into practice, even in cases where people actually envision "21st-century socialism" and put it consciously on the political agenda as in the exceptional case of Venezuela. What people have in Venezuela is still a mixed economy under the overall capitalist mode of production, an economy less socialized than Iran's, and the Venezuelans are fighting a struggle akin to what the Iranians fought (and lost) in the era of Mohamed Mossadeq.* It's better to think of all national economies as mixed economies, some of them more socialized than others, some of them more under state control than under control of domestic and/or foreign capitalists, differences being a matter of degree than kind, with a possible exception of Cuba where the domestic capitalist class do not exist yet.
The struggle, nearly everywhere, is over what and how much means of production are socialized and what and how much means of consumption are decommodified. The job of intellectuals on the Left is to clarify the precise nature of struggle in each case and think of concrete ways to push the struggle forward, so people can better defend the already socialized means of production and decommodified means of consumption and, when and where it's possible, move to socialize and decommodify more.
* Would you have supported Mossadeq if you had been politically conscious in his time?
Several days before the coup d'etat that toppled his government, the New York Times characterized Mossadeq thus: "We now know that he [Mossadeqh] is a power-hungry, personally ambitious, ruthless demagogue who is trampling upon the liberties of his own people. We have seen this one-time champion of liberty maintain martial law, curb freedom of the press, radio, speech, and assembly, resort to illegal arrests and torture, dismiss the Senate, . . . take over control of the army, and now he is about to destroy the Majlis, which is the lower house of Parliament. . . . Thanks largely to Dr. Mossadegh, there is much to fear in Iran" ("Mossadegh Plays with Fire," Editorial, New York Times, 15 August 1953). A familiar rhetoric, isn't it? Would you have been able to see through it and defend what had to be defended?
Before getting to this point of all but calling for regime change, the New York Times had been representing Iran under the Mossadeq administration as a country crying out for it. Truth be told, Iran then was indeed in much worse shape than Iran today, due to the country's underdevelopment, which was much aggravated by not only measures taken by the British and the Americans in reaction to oil nationalization but also by those Iranians to the Left and Right of Mossadeq who couldn't bring themselves to steadfastly supporting his government. Read what the New York Times had to say back then and think.
<http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F00A10FE3B5F147B93C3AB178ED85F458585F9> Economic Blows Possible; Technical Skill Lacking May 21, 1951, Monday Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES. Page 13, 599 words
DISPLAYING FIRST PARAGRAPH - LONDON, May 20--If the Iranian Government insists upon taking possession of the British oil concession in Iran the concessionaires have a trump card to play in the form of severe economic sanctions.
<http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F50E1FF73B59157B93C7A8178CD85F458585F9> COMMUNISTS IN IRAN AWAIT THEIR CHANCE; 'MR. HARRIMAN'S MISSION' July 15, 1951, Sunday By MICHAEL CLARK Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES. Section: The Week In Review, Page E6, 833 words
DISPLAYING FIRST PARAGRAPH - TEHERAN, July 14--Iranian Premier Mossadegh and his National Front are headed for open, bitter conflict with the illegal Communist Tudeh party--a conflict which threatens ruin to the Iranian Government.
<http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FB0917F73A5B177B93C5A8178CD85F458585F9> IRAN ARRESTS REDS; HARRIMAN CONFERS; ARRIVING IN IRAN TO AID IN OIL DISPUTE July 17, 1951, Tuesday By SYDNEY GRUSON Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES. Page 1, 1390 words
DISPLAYING FIRST PARAGRAPH - TEHERAN, Iran, July 16--With the proclamation of martial law in Teheran today, the Iranian Government began a round-up of Communist activists as a result of yesterday's bloody rioting in the downtown streets of the capital.
<http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F50912F73A5B177B93C5A8178CD85F458585F9> FLAMING OIL IN IRAN July 17, 1951, Tuesday Page 26, 391 words
DISPLAYING FIRST PARAGRAPH - The sanguinary rioting in Teheran on Sunday was ominous and significant. It was ominous because Iran is a powder keg that can explode if much more of this sort of thing happens; it was significant because it may herald a definite break between those strange bedfellows, the National Front of Premier Mossadegh and the Tudeh party of the Communists.
<http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F60F10F93D5A137B93C2A81782D85F458585F9> MOSSADEGH FOILED IN CONFIDENCE VOTE; Iran Opposition Deputies Again Boycott Session Premier Still Plans to Oust British MOSSADEGH FOILED IN CONFIDENCE VOTE Britons Held Handicap U.S. Aid Discounted
September 10, 1951, Monday Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES. Page 1, 912 words
DISPLAYING FIRST PARAGRAPH - TEHERAN, Iran, Sept. 9 Premier Mohammed Mossadegh was unable to obtain a vote of confidence in the Majlis, or Lower House of Parliament, today. For the second time in four days, Opposition Deputies managed by their absence to prevent a voting quorum.
<http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F30A12F83A59157B93C5A81782D85F458585F9> MOSSADEGH FOILED AGAIN BY DEPUTIES; Foes in Iranian Lower House Block Vote of Confidence for Third Time Running Report Is Minimized More information. September 17, 1951, Monday Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES. Page 10, 572 words
DISPLAYING FIRST PARAGRAPH - TEHERAN, Iran, Sept. 16.--For the third time running Opposition Deputies, by boycotting the Majlis, were able today to prevent the Lower House from taking legislative action and to block Premier Mohammed Mossadegh's efforts to win a vote of confidence there.
<http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F10F13FA3F5F157A93CBAB178AD95F458585F9> Terrorism Called Silent Ally In Triumphs of Mossadegh; Threat of Assassination Hangs Over Foes of Iranian Premier in Fight for Power November 29, 1951, Thursday By MICHAEL CLARK Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES. Page 8, 823 words
DISPLAYING FIRST PARAGRAPH - TEHERAN, Iran, Nov. 28--Premier Mohammed Mossadegh's remarkable 90-to-0 vote of confidence in the Majlis or Lower House of Parliament last Sunday was not achieved without assistance from his stealthy, ever-present partner --incipient terrorism.
<http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F20810FA3A591A7B93C7A91789D95F458585F9> IRAN BANK FIGHTS DRAIN ON EXCHANGE; Opening of Credit Abroad for Imports Suspended in Step to Protect Currency December 5, 1951, Wednesday Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES. Page 6, 408 words
DISPLAYING FIRST PARAGRAPH - TEHERAN, Iran, Dec. 4--The National Bank of Iran suspended today the opening of credits abroad for all imports. The measure, a consequence of the present foreign exchange crisis, was described as "temporary."
<http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FB0F16FA355F177A93C5A91789D95F458585F9> 5,000 Red-Led Youths Battle Iranian Forces for 5 Hours; Five Are Killed and More Than 200 Injured as 5,000 Nationalist Extremists Join in Fight and Then Go on Rampage
December 7, 1951, Friday Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES. Page 1, 688 words
DISPLAYING FIRST PARAGRAPH - TEHERAN, Iran, Dec. 6--Five thousand Communist-led youths, shouting death threats against Premier Mohammed Mossadegh, fought a wild five-hour battle in the streets today with the police, troops and anti-Red civilians who totaled 10,000.
<http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F00D1EFB3F5F157A93C2A81789D95F458585F9> MOSSADEGH'S FOES DRAFT U.N. APPEAL; 32 Deputies and Editors Say Regime's 'Gangsters' Are Threatening Their Lives December 10, 1951, Monday Page 4, 510 words
DISPLAYING FIRST PARAGRAPH - TEHERAN, Iran, Dec. 9 (AP)-- Thirty-two Opposition Deputies and newspaper editors, who have taken refuge in Iran's Parliament building charging their lives were threatened by "Government gangsters," drafted today a formal protest to the United Nations.
<http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F70710FC35591A7B93C0A81789D95F458585F9> Iran's Deputies in Fist Fight; Foes Seek Premier's Ouster; Mossadegh Shouted Down by Opposition as Session Turns Into Melee--Mob Tries to Storm Into Parliament Building December 12, 1951, Wednesday Page 1, 842 words
DISPLAYING FIRST PARAGRAPH - TEHERAN, Iran, Dec. 11--Opposition and Government Deputies fought with their fists inside Parliament today while a frenzied mob outside shouted for the blood of the opponents of Premier Mohammed Mossadegh.
<http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F30C12F73D5A137B93C1A81789D95F458585F9> GROUPS OF PRIESTS BATTLE IN TEHERAN; Anti-British and Anti-Russian Rallies Swell Turmoil in Iran -Senator Scores Regime December 13, 1951, Thursday Page 5, 369 words
DISPLAYING FIRST PARAGRAPH - TEHERAN, Iran, Dec. 12(AP) Fighting among priests, anti-British and anti-Soviet demonstrations and legislative sitdowns against the Government tonight swelled Iran's turmoil over the paralysis of her big oil industry.
<http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FB0D14FF3F5C117B93C6A81789D95F458585F9> Reuters Correspondent Is Expelled by Iran; He Denies Regime's Charge of False Reports December 14, 1951, Friday Page 4, 377 words
DISPLAYING FIRST PARAGRAPH - TEHERAN, Iran, Dec. 13 (AP) The Iranian Government today ordered Leopold Herman, correspondent for Reuters, British news agency, to leave Iran within fortyeight hours. The Government...
<http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FA0E1FFE3A55177B93CAAB1789D95F458585F9> REGIME TO IMPOSE AUSTERITY ON IRAN; Decree Drafted for Approval of Cabinet Will Prohibit All Unessential Imports Barter Deal With Soviet Opposition Offers Bill
December 28, 1951, Friday By ALBION ROSS Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES. Page 3, 751 words
DISPLAYING FIRST PARAGRAPH - TEHERAN, Iran, Dec. 27--Iran is going on a regimen of austerity to meet the increasing financial and economic crisis. A decree has been prepared by the Ministry of National Economy for presentation to the Cabinet Saturday for approval.
<http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F20A10FE3D5E177B93C0A91789D85F468585F9> IRANIANS DENY A BAN ON CULTURE CENTERS
February 2, 1952, Saturday Page 3, 193 words
DISPLAYING FIRST PARAGRAPH - TEHERAN, Iran, Feb. 1 (AP) -- A Government spokesman denied today that Iran had decided to close all foreign cultural centers outside Teheran. He said the shutdown orders issued yesterday to United States, British and Soviet information offices were a result of a "wrong handling by local authorities."
<http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F20610FD3E5E177B93C6A8178CD85F468585F9> MOSSADEGH SEEKS EMERGENCY POWER; Asks 6-Month Term to Set Up Wide 'Reforms' to Deal With Iran's Economic Crisis MOSSADEGH SEEKS EMERGENCY POWER July 14, 1952, Monday By ALBION ROSSSpecial to THE NEW YORK TIMES. Page 01, 654 words
DISPLAYING FIRST PARAGRAPH - TEHERAN, Iran, July 13 -- Premier Mohammed Mossadegh, appearing in Parliament today for the first time in seven months, presented a single-article bill under which he would receive dictatorial powers for six months. He sought these powers "to formulate and implement plans for financial, economic, judicial, banking and personnel reforms," he explained.
<http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F50F1FFC3A58107A93C7A8178CD85F468585F9> A BID FOR DICTATORSHIP July 15, 1952, Tuesday Section: BOOKS, Page 20, 300 words
DISPLAYING FIRST PARAGRAPH - Having brought his country to the verge of bankruptcy, Premier Mossadegh is now trying to take it further along the road to ruin by demanding dictatorial powers for six months, on the plea that he needs these powers to pull Iran out of the crisis into which he has plunged it. What he proposes is in effect a legalized coup d'etat that smacks of Hitler's technique. -- Yoshie