Spain • 🌿 Progressive

Militarization of Iranian state: Pasdarans absorb civilian power

Militarization of Iranian state: Pasdarans absorb civilian power

Iran's Revolutionary Guards consolidate militarized control over civilian institutions, weakening democratic spaces and citizen rights.

The Islamic Republic of Iran is experiencing a concerning concentration of power in the hands of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, the Pasdarans, at the expense of civilian and democratic institutions. This militarization process strengthens repressive apparatuses and weakens spaces for citizen participation, consolidating a governance model where armed forces make decisions that directly affect millions of Iranians' lives. 🔹 What happened: The Revolutionary Guards have progressively expanded control beyond traditional military functions, penetrating economic sectors, enterprises, and public services. They have assumed responsibilities in internal security, intelligence operations, and direction of regional armed conflicts, effectively eliminating civilian oversight over these critical activities. 🔹 Key players: Iran's president, who constitutionally possesses executive attributions, finds himself practically subordinated to the security structure led by the Pasdarans and the Supreme Leader. Iranian citizens, particularly workers, activists, and minorities, remain exposed to a power structure less accountable to civilian institutions or popular demands. 🔹 Why it matters: This military concentration undermines fundamental rights, civil liberties, and spaces for citizen participation in Iran. The absence of civilian counterbalances facilitates repression, limits citizens' capacity to influence decisions, and perpetuates cycles of regional conflict affecting vulnerable populations. War and peace decisions rest with non-democratic institutions. 🔹 What to expect: The trend points toward greater military centralization in future governments, potentially intensifying internal tensions and regional confrontations. Civil society movements and sectors will face growing obstacles to influencing strategic decisions, while militarization consumes resources that could address education, health, and citizen welfare. 📌 EPM Take: The absorption of civilian power by military apparatuses represents grave regression for citizens' rights and democratic institutionality in Iran.
📤 Share on Telegram

¿Te gustó este artículo? Recibe cobertura global en tu correo.

Suscríbete gratis / Subscribe free