Iran: The Case for Democratic Containment
Abstract
This paper discusses the evolution of US policy towards Iran and makes recommendations for a policy based on the current political environment in Iran and the unique characteristics of the Iranian constitutional system, which has increasingly pitted reformist against hard-line theocrats. It proposes that by basing US policy on long-standing values we can avoid the mistakes of the past and realize our national interests in relation to Iran. This paper argues that policy options based primarily on regime change through military means, cooperative action and engagement are insufficient to accomplish the US end-state objectives and proposes a values-based policy of democratic containment. Democratic containment supports reform by depriving the theocratic regime of the propaganda, economic and political leverage need to hold back the tide of a young reform-minded population while avoiding the pitfalls of preemption and engagement. While maintaining the high ground of US values, democratic containment repudiates past and present support for undemocratic Iranian regimes and returns US policy to its historic status as a shining city on a hill.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 18, 2005
- Accession Number
- ADA434872
Entities
People
- Charles K. Hyde
Organizations
- United States Army War College