Factors Hindering Development in Iran

Factors Hindering Development in Iran

According to the Iran Gate report, the factors hindering development in Iran have been highlighted in 2023, and sustainable development remains an unfulfilled aspiration for Iranian society. Development that would make every Iranian proud of their country and identity, and allow them to have something new to say in comparison to other countries in the world. But why has sustainable development become out of reach for Iran, and why are we getting closer to development blockage than ever before?

Reformism as a Prerequisite for Development

Reformism is a prerequisite for development; development without renewal and renewal without reformism is impossible. Although we witness profound social transformations in some layers of Iranian society, the governance system is still not ready to accept fundamental reforms. Belief in the possibility of reforming political and economic structures through reformism in Iran’s governance system has become more challenging, and the development framework is more blocked than ever.

Two Fears

Calmness is considered a fundamental principle in the development process for any country, but many of us are concerned that the future of Iranian society might be more frightening than today. To achieve endogenous development, public trust and social solidarity must also be high, and this is the most significant challenge for Iranian society these days. In a society where public trust is weak, fear and anxiety about the future increase day by day, and development loses its sustainable meaning.

Three Poverty and Inflation

Today, a large part of Iranian society is grappling with poverty and destitution, overwhelmed by numerous problems, and the state of the Iranian middle class, as the cornerstone of development, is not good at all. Poverty has led many experts to believe that Iran has fallen permanently behind in the development race, and according to the hierarchy of needs in Maslow’s pyramid, this country will remain engaged in meeting the most basic needs of its society for a long time. Food insecurity threatens us, and while the current world is intertwined with technological domains and the entire globe has become a single entity, we still face challenges in having a normal connection with the world.

Four Inability and Decline of Ideas

Throughout history, people have lived in the land of Iran who continue to be a source of pride for every Iranian. Empires like the Sassanids have left enduring legacies in this land, indicating the flourishing of development at that time. Although there have been periods of stagnation in Iran’s history, there have also been many brilliant eras. However, today it seems that there are no more renowned figures and reformists who actively engage in implementation, and the deserving ones have gone into seclusion.

This country is in dire need of thinkers and figures in the field of execution, great men like Mirza Taqi Khan Amir Kabir. Just recently, some media placed Amir Kabir’s hat on Mohammad Javad Zarif, the then Foreign Minister, portraying him in the guise of Arash, the legendary Iranian hero, or Amir Kabir. The development of the Iranian land requires men with lofty ideas and a resolute spirit.

Five Will to Rise

Desiring development through daydreaming is not possible; one must have the will to awaken and rise. If this will exists, development will not be blocked. We can start from the current situation. Didn’t Japan rise from the ashes of World War II? It is enough for half of the governance system’s will in Japan to serve as a model for the governance system in Iran. Japan’s power does not lie in its defensive and military system; the Japanese have established deep connections with their former enemy in World War II because the current global order’s leader is that former enemy, and they align themselves based on national interests.

The Japanese knew that there was no other path to their sustainable development, and they had the will to achieve it. If the will is genuine, we should not doubt that development ideas will once again sprout in our land. The government must restore hope to society through its performance and distance itself and others from the sense of powerlessness and lack of future prospects in global competitions.