Iran: Sanctions and Neoliberalism

In response to the United States and its European allies' ‘Maximum Pressure’ sanctions on the Islamic Republic of Iran and the unimaginable suffering and devastating economic problems they have caused, Iran, like many other countries targeted by imperialist states, has been trying to devise an east-oriented “resistance economy.” However, the sanctions strategy itself puts obstacles in this path.

While a well-entrenched pro-West neoliberal section of the Iranian capitalist class, which still controls important parts of the Iranian economy, sabotages these efforts, so-called “smart sanctions” —designed to strengthen the private sector against their public sector — are seeking to shift the internal balance of forces in favor of this very section of the capitalist class.

The result has been a struggle within the Iranian leadership between the representatives of this entrenched pro-West neo-liberal capitalist class and the supporters of an east-oriented “resistance economy. ” Its outcome will shape Iran’s contrbution to the emerging multi-polar world.

In this webinar, we will explore different aspects of this ongoing battle in Iran and the possible paths that a “resistance economy” should take.

Speakers

Bahman Azad is an Iranian-American peace activist who has been involved in the struggle for peace and justice in the US and around the world since the 1970s. He is a retired professor of Sociology and Economics with a Doctoral degree in Sociology and a Master’s degree in Economics. Bahman is the President of the U.S. Peace Council, a member of the Secretariat of the World Peace Council, and a representative of the World Peace Council at the United Nations. He is also a member of the Administrative Committee of the United National Antiwar Coalition (UNAC). He has served as Co-Chair of Venezuelan Embassy Protectors Defense Committee (Washington DC) and is currently the Coordinator of the Coalition Against U.S. Foreign Military Bases; the Global Campaign Against US/NATO Military Bases; and Co-Coordinator of the Hands-Off Syria Coalition. His area of research includes the political economy of Capitalism and Socialism, and his articles on this subject have appeared in such journals as Political Affairs, and Nature, Society and Thought. He is the author of the book: Heroic Struggle, Bitter Defeat: Factors Contributing to the Dismantling of the Socialist State in the USSR, published by International Publishers, New York.

Parisa Nasrabadi is an Iranian political analyst and researcher based in Tehran. Her research interests include development in the Global South, multipolarity, security policies and history of imperialism in the West Asia.

Ali Alizadeh is an Iranian journalist and broadcaster living in London. He is the founder of Jedaal TV, an independent media organisation in Persian focusing on Iranian and Middle East politics.

Taha Zeinali is an Iranian campaigner and researcher based in Kassel. His interests include political economy of contemporary imperialism, the sanction regimes, and the possibility of an alternative integration of Iran’s economy in the world market.

[ManouchehrKabirizadeh-cbsl]

Amazing discussion, i learned so much as an Iranian.I wish more people would see it.Thanks

[pausereflect]

I love 💟 that you are all helping us understand SANCTIONS in a wider context because I think they are ALWAYS a means to an end.
Thank you all for your perspective. It helps broaden mine.

[omidomid]

Thank you for making your very good program and dear guests

[SionEliakamal-ttny]

دست تک تک شما دوستان را میفشارم .موفق باشید.

[pausereflect]

Radhika, you're such an organized person! I bet in life you like everything just so so.
I appreciate that skill. Thank you. ❤

[ManouchehrKabirizadeh-cbsl]

I just wish Bahman had done all the talking.

[pausereflect]

May I add my discoveies so far please 🙏.

I started with William Dalrymple (Delhi based, let's call him Historian) to understand how the British controlled India and for lllooonnnggg!
(He is also knows the Mughal Rule, so with your questioning it would be excellent to understand such a dry subject).

TheUSA is doing the SAME and it carried on from the British.

It would be wonderful to see the STEPS, the progression.
Mr Dalrymple, if questioned correctly, can show us the comparisons.