Comments on: Iran is relatively liberal on social issues

By: Eugenick

Eugenick — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 21:44:45 +0000

Nothing unexpected. Unlike the Saudis, Iranians actually have a recent secular past & traditions to cling to, in this case the progressive Pahlavi regime. Similarly, Pakistanis have the British secular traditions to remember, although more distant in time.

The Egyptians also had Lord Cromer, his influence lasted for a while too: http://islamizationwatch.blogspot.com/2010/02/steady-islamization-and-arabization-of.html

Unfortunately, in all of those cases the secularization did not go far enough so as to eradicate religious fanaticism. Ataturk, however, managed what the Shah and the British could not.

By: xerxes

xerxes — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 18:47:18 +0000

Michelle, cannot agree with you more. Well said. As for Anthony, look up in history, Persians had human right charter 2500 years ago. Maybe that history has a little bit to do with the attitude of Iranians!

By: hass

hass — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 13:53:08 +0000

In Iran, you’ll find a world class reduction in fertility (with the Mideast’s only condom factory, and mandatory sex ed classes), massive program to build cars that run on natural gas, world class AIDS programs, free needle exchange programs for addicts, government funded sex change operations, a system of healthcare for the poor that is being used as a model inbthe US, teaching evolution, etc.

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/03/how-iran-derailed-a-health-crisis/

http://www.fasebj.org/content/20/13/2183.full

By: John smith

John smith — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 08:12:48 +0000

That’s too broad of a question. A more interesting question would be to ask whether a woman should be stoned to death for adultery or sex outside marriage. The international community condemned iran for that sentence. Well, let’s see whether the policy is the goverment’s idea or a reflection of the people’s view.

By: ziel

ziel — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 06:31:03 +0000

What are the US numbers?

Those are the only countries for which there are data for that question. It appears to have only been asked in Muslim countries.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 03:37:27 +0000

Anthony #7…Exactly what do you mean by “If I wanted to trade in stereotypes, I’d guess that the high female disagreement among Iranian women stemmed from a more general attitude among Iranians that the world revolves around themselves.” I have lived in many different countries, including Iran, and I have found that every country suffers from the belief that the world revolves around it. Americans are irritated when they see this attitude in others, but they too suffer from a delusion of cultural and moral superiority.

By: ohwilleke

ohwilleke — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 01:08:06 +0000

One could argue something similar on democratic politics. Iran is certainly not a full and free democracy, but its elections are more democratic the systems of Saudi Arabia, Oman, pre-Iraq War Iraq, Kuwait, UAE, pre-revolution Libya, pre-revolution Yemen, pre-revolution Egypt, or Syria (or for that matter Cuba or North Korea).

In Iran, there are genuine decisions within the realm of theocratic acceptability between genuinely differing candidates and the democratic institutions in revolutionary Iran have some real power and are not pure consultive or figurehead institutions. Overall, its position on the demcracy to dictatorship scale is on a par with China perhaps.

Iran is less democratic than Turkey or contemporary Indonesia, and probably less democratic than Pakistan or Bangladesh.

An understanding of the social and political “moderation” of Iran relative to some of its neighbors as being a function of the need for representation when the state needs taxation and can’t simply rely on ownership of natural resources is also a pretty plausible analysis of why it is this way, although it doesn’t do much to explain why a country like Pakistan isn’t much better democratically and politically than it actually seems to be.

By: Xerxes

Xerxes — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 23:53:14 +0000

As a British/Iranian, the result of your pole does not surprise me about Iranian Men/Women views. However, I would (like John Emerson) like to ask how do these figuers compare with US and UK? Maybe then we can have a better understanding of your figures.

By: Paul R

Paul R — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 22:47:57 +0000

#2, probably less expensive than a Nigerian mail-order bride site. A point most Nigerians would agree on- though whose fault this is is a matter for debate.

By: John Emerson

John Emerson — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 22:46:41 +0000

What are the US numbers?

By: Sam McNerney

Sam McNerney — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 22:13:40 +0000

I suppose it’s important to understand Iran relative to its neighbors. But it is still morally unacceptable for so many of its citizen to think this way.

By: Anthony

Anthony — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 21:44:20 +0000

Interesting that Pakistan has less difference between male and female responses than does Iran, but still higher than most other Muslim countries.

If I wanted to trade in stereotypes, I’d guess that the high female disagreement among Iranian women stemmed from a more general attitude among Iranians that the world revolves around themselves, or from more Iranian than Arab women sharing that sort of attitude.

By: zach

zach — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 21:28:15 +0000

Hi Razib,

nice blog post. I just went to the WVS to see how the US would stack up on the same question. However, it looks like this question was not asked among the US surveys….. I would imagine European countries would be strongly negative but I am curious how strong the traditionalists in the US would answer this question. Pakistan’s answer was certainly surprising to me.

By: Razib Khan

Razib Khan — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 20:10:27 +0000

#4, no. 86% for muslims, 82% for xtians.

By: Peter

Peter — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 20:03:09 +0000

Are the Nigerian responses limited to the Muslim population?