Science - April 27, 2006
Post/ War on Iran
Enhancing human dignity, equality and fairness is a great foundation for democracy in developed western countries. Pro-humanitarian and anti-violation mentalities are blessed products of such democratic systems. In many political crises at the global level it has been shown that a deliberative approach with appropriate practical tools, such as communication, dialogue and coming to a compromise is the best approach to avoid violations and wars. I believe that using military interventions – resulting in many deaths and casualties – to fulfil one aspect of democracy or citizens’ rights (e.g. security) adversely affects the other basis of a democratic system and strongly violates the other fundamental principles of democracy and citizens’ rights. Unfortunately, there are many indications from the recent Iranian nuclear crisis that this is going to happen between Iran and the United States.
After the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq – which have had huge economic and human costs – even thinking about a new war and its negative consequences is horrible. Some years after these wars these countries have still not returned to normality and people are suffering from insecurity and instability. These examples show that democracy cannot be imported to any society by force. We think bringing democracy by means of military force is a modern excuse to invade a country, exploit it and take control over its resources. Killing innocent people and destroying the infrastructure of the country under invasion are inevitable in such a harsh procedure. Thus it is definitely against the fundamental elements of a democracy and contradicts valuable concepts such as human rights that have grown in an atmosphere of democracy.
In conclusion, I strongly believe that Iran and the United States must try and examine all the possible and feasible approaches to resolve this problem in order to prevent a new war. A war on Iran will not lead to peace, neither for Iranians nor for Americans. Therefore I feel it is time again for scientists and academicians to take the initiative, shed light on this issue and warn the politicians and also public opinion about the irreversible and devastating consequences of a new war for all citizens around the globe. As an Iranian student in Europe, this short paper is a brief announcement of my anti-war opinion.
Bouda Vosough Ahmadi, PhD student, Business Economics Group, Wageningen University