Het is geen recent fenomeen dat Iran beschuldigd wordt als zijnde de grootste sponsor van wereldwijd terrorisme. Met name haar steun aan de Libanese organisatie Hezbollah ligt vaak onder vuur. De...Show moreHet is geen recent fenomeen dat Iran beschuldigd wordt als zijnde de grootste sponsor van wereldwijd terrorisme. Met name haar steun aan de Libanese organisatie Hezbollah ligt vaak onder vuur. De doelen van Iran en Hezbollah vallen op een cruciaal punt samen: het verzet tegen Israël. Ondanks dat Iran zich meerdere malen publiekelijk uitsprak tegen het bestaan van Israël, kwam het echter nooit tot een militair conflict. Maar kunnen we stellen dat Iran, door Hezbollah te steunen, wel degelijk in oorlog is met Israël en er sprake is van een zogeheten proxy-oorlog tussen de twee landen?Show less
During the presidential campaign of 2009, televised debates between candidates were introduced in Iran. Most analysts understand the airing of these debates in the context of a short-term freedom...Show moreDuring the presidential campaign of 2009, televised debates between candidates were introduced in Iran. Most analysts understand the airing of these debates in the context of a short-term freedom of speech in Iran which only occurs during the elections. Such a view however does not do justice to the possible long-term effects of these debates on Iranian democracy. This paper will analyze the long-term effects that these television debates may have on the process of democracy in Iran as a whole. There is reason to think that a long-term effect of televised debates is likely. Exposure of Iranians to a level of freedom of speech during campaigns adds to the democratic legitimacy of the elections, and through that to the legitimacy of the elected President. This paper will analyze the live television debates between the eight presidential candidates of 2013 as data to examine ‘to what extent the presidential debates of 2013 have contributed to more democratic elections.’ This paper has chosen to focus on the conventional media, because these are more widespread than Internet in Iran.Show less
