The new U.S. Administration should use not only economic and political sanctions but also positive incentives to promote and encourage democratic change in Iran, argues Mohammad Reza Kazemi, a broadcaster with RFE/RL’s Radio Farda. Europe would support such an approach
Increasing access to information and informed debate is another priority, but beware of ‘get-free-quick’ notions of regime change, he argues:
A careful and nuanced approach to democracy promotion is needed in Iran, one that does not expect the immediate result of “regime change” but the long-term result of open civil society and healthy grassroots institutions. The path to achieving this is not simple, and direct financial support to activists is not always the best way to advance their efforts. In fact, under the current system, such aid can bring them no end of grief. In addition, you must avoid the pitfall of supporting groups that pretend to espouse liberal values but in fact are bent on establishing their own dictatorship in Iran.
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