Analysing Iran's election

Submitted by Joel Shapiro (United States), Jun 14, 2009 at 16:59

The reason is not a mystery: hard line Islamism is seen as heroic in that part of the world -- a sign of courage and honour and machismo in a culture of shame. And they pitch it that way -- belligerent or not, the fundamentalists are pretending to be the only ones to be really looking out for Islam and the common Muslim who is oppressed by Americans and Jews.

Further, this works or functions (is powerful / effective) because in the Muslim world it is devastating to have your religiosity / piety questioned, and so the fundamentalists have a built in advantage / power over those who are less religious / more moderate.

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