OldLahori

Here is the conclusion of Francis Fukuyama's article as reprinted in Dailytimes. He states "70% of Iran’s population is now under the age of 30 and from all reports these young people tend to abhor the Islamic theocracy. " Is this true?
From all I have been reading on Iran, there is change brewing in that country. Which way it will "explode" is unclear. However, Iranians turning anti-mullah theocracy is a proposition that is starting to appear more and more in various analysis. Since Pakistan is culturally close to Iran and due to the historical ties, I think what happens in Iran will have a large influence on Pakistan's outlook.

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http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default...-10-2002_pg3_5
Islam and modernity: reform through radicalism
Francis Fukuyama & Nadav Samin

The modernisation of Islam is hardly imminent and will not occur without enormous struggle. There are many obstacles, not least the lack of a tradition of secular politics. Nor is it clear that the Muslim world is capable of the necessary realistic self-appraisal



It is the Iranians who, having lived under Islamist rule for the past generation, are most likely to lead the Islamic world out of its impasse. One basic demographic fact works in favour of eventual liberalisation: 70% of Iran’s population is now under the age of 30 and from all reports these young people tend to abhor the Islamic theocracy. Having brought the first Islamist regime to power, Iran would set a powerful example for the Middle East and beyond if it moved towards liberalisation.

In the end it is as important not to overestimate the strength of Islamism as it is fatal to underestimate it. It has little to offer Arabs, much less the rest of the Muslim world. Its glorification of violence has already produced a sharp counter-reaction and — provided it is defeated — its “successes” may yet help pave the way for long-overdue reform. If so, this would certainly not be the first time that the cunning of history has produced so astounding a result.

ahmadjee

OldLahori,

First its more so a political question than religious. Second, Pakistan is not as much tied to Iran as people like to believe. The majority population provinces have their roots across the other border & with NWFP having its roots in Afghanistan.

Change is inevitable in Iran, the reformists are getting more & more support day by day & its a fact. Is it 70%? Hummm, I donno. Is it against theocracy as principle or actually against how its run is also another point to look into.

NYAhmadiX

Ahmadjaee Bhaijan, I beg to differ. It is a religious question. People there are not getting sick and tired of the air and the water, but the excessive religion that is being shoved down their throats among other places. The last days of the Molvis are on the horizon, we can almost see it. And yes, Iranian revolution had a huge impact on the way Pakistan is today, and a change in the environment there will bring change in Pakistan as well.

OldLahori

I know very little of Iran, and the few iranians I know here are very westernised. One is an apostate outright and is a member of SRF ( she is a nice person ) but frankly I consider her a little "loose in the head". The other one is totally secular. So the only real information I get is what I glean over the net. 70% sounds high to me too. But then I have no basis to compare it too. When you consider that Farsi was the official language of the Mughals, and it was the language of the intellectuals of South Asia for 700 years, and that Fiqh Jafari has a fairly large standing in the population of South Asia, I would think that atleast historically Pakistan's culture and Iran's culture would be tied strongly. I am given to understand that a large fraction of Urdu's idiom comes from Farsi. I would be very interested in hearing from someone who knows more about Iran: are the reformists against theocracy as principle or not? I think they way they have expressed themselve in the Iranian Press at times, it certainly sounds like it. How much following do they really have? I do believe that what happens in Iran will influence Pakistan's culture and polity quite a bit.