Ghassemlou's ideas of democracy and Iranian-Kurdish relations in contemporary Iran

Abstract

This thesis is based on Ghassemlou's ideas about democracy and democratization of Iran as a multi-national and multi-religious country. Because of the lack of democracy, there are many conflicts and injustices in society. Therefore, the democratization of Iran is the best way to transform the various politically, economic and social oppression. Such a solution can be found through Abdol Rahman Ghassemlou's ideas and plans for Iran. Until today, the relationship between the Persians and other nations in Iran has been very unbalanced, Independent of which governance form the country has had. The Kurds in Iran have fought for self-governance right many years. Now they believe they can realize this goal by democratizing Iran, while they believe that all Kurds are one nation.

The problem statement for this task have been: What did democracy mean for Ghassemlou in theory and practice, and how Ghassemlou’s ideas about democracy can help us to democratize Iran?

The main finding in this thesis is that Iran is a multi-national and multi-religious country ruled by an Islamic theocratic system, that Persians have great influence over it, and that consequently – in order to democratize Iran, the country first needs to remove this theocratic system, then can create a system that will help people to practice democracy. Such a system should bring up democratic personalities, by training in practising democracy, in which people will form organizations, have freedom of speech, tolerate differences, and grants people a great degree of self-governance trough a decentralized political system. Some key word in this thesis: autonomy, democracy, democratic personality, decentralization, democratic socialism.