Thread
Activists inside Iran have been calling for 3 days of action on 5-6-7 Dec.
Now the biggest teachers trade union has joined the calls.
Significance?
I try to connect some dots on trajectory of current Women Revolution, class struggle, and historical dynamics of dissent in Iran.👇
Now the biggest teachers trade union has joined the calls.
Significance?
I try to connect some dots on trajectory of current Women Revolution, class struggle, and historical dynamics of dissent in Iran.👇
7 Dec is Student Day in Iran's political calendar.
In 1953, a few months after the CIA backed Coup, leftists and liberal nationalist students held demonstrations against Richard Nixon (then US vice president) visiting Tehran.
Shah's soldier opened fired and killed three students.
In 1953, a few months after the CIA backed Coup, leftists and liberal nationalist students held demonstrations against Richard Nixon (then US vice president) visiting Tehran.
Shah's soldier opened fired and killed three students.
Each year 7 Dec (#16Azar in Iranian calendar) has a special political significance as a barometer of discontent.
Fast forward to the current uprising, calls for consecutive days of action and the teachers union's support: this is the second time 3 day protests are organised.
Fast forward to the current uprising, calls for consecutive days of action and the teachers union's support: this is the second time 3 day protests are organised.
The last round was on 15-17 Nov: the anniversary of the 2019 protests against the overnight hike of petrol prices (#BloodyAban).
Protesters managed to examine organising a general strike, long way to a sustainable general strike in industries that hurt the regime, but still...
Protesters managed to examine organising a general strike, long way to a sustainable general strike in industries that hurt the regime, but still...
Approaching the fourth month of constant protests (really, not a single day passed without them) protester networks have shown they're capable of cornering the regime and disrupting the routine.
At this point demonstration are beyond demonstrating: they are creating something.
At this point demonstration are beyond demonstrating: they are creating something.
In this creative process, the movement has consciously been leaderless, even against the authority of the aspiring figureheads.
But being against hierarchical leadership doesn't cancel your need for institutional capacity in logistics of a general strike, let alone a revolution.
But being against hierarchical leadership doesn't cancel your need for institutional capacity in logistics of a general strike, let alone a revolution.
That's where the support of the teachers unions becomes significant:
They are the biggest and socially diverse trade unions in Iran. The Education Ministry alone employs over half a million teachers, it is also one the most underpaid sectors despite their skill and education.
They are the biggest and socially diverse trade unions in Iran. The Education Ministry alone employs over half a million teachers, it is also one the most underpaid sectors despite their skill and education.
Not surprisingly, teachers have had multiple waves of nation wide strikes in past few years.
Grievances include low pay but also privatisations and ideological pressures on pedagogy.
So, teachers unions now have 1,000s of experienced grassroots organisers all over the country.
Grievances include low pay but also privatisations and ideological pressures on pedagogy.
So, teachers unions now have 1,000s of experienced grassroots organisers all over the country.
This doesn't mean teachers can mount a strike at will. A few weeks ago they called for a strike to protest the killings of tens of schoolchildren by the Islamic Republic thugs, it wasn't successful. Possibly, one of the reasons is that many of the union activists are imprisoned. 
Nevertheless, teachers unions remain as the most widespread network of experienced organisers with a loosely common sociopolitical vision.
Moreover, they embody what Asef Bayat calls the "middle-class poor" and sees as the main agent of social change.
www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2018/01/iran-protest-mashaad-green-class-labor-economy/5516...
Moreover, they embody what Asef Bayat calls the "middle-class poor" and sees as the main agent of social change.
www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2018/01/iran-protest-mashaad-green-class-labor-economy/5516...
But why 7 Dec protests against the Islamist regime could be particularly significant?
Because this directly connects the current movement to the democratic struggles of the past, and it's not just 1953. The Student Day (#16Azar) has continuously been a headache for the dictators.
Because this directly connects the current movement to the democratic struggles of the past, and it's not just 1953. The Student Day (#16Azar) has continuously been a headache for the dictators.
In 2009 Green Movement #16Azar was an important day to reassert the movement isn't dying out (it eventually did a year later).
In 2007 it was an occasion for the leftists to show their strength (possibly a miscalculation, given hundreds were arrested).
In 2007 it was an occasion for the leftists to show their strength (possibly a miscalculation, given hundreds were arrested).
Islamic Republic presidents Khatami and Ahmadinejad were booed by the students on #16Azar.
With systematic oppression and non-existence of parties and political organisations, the student movement in Iran has been a key political field (think more Korea in 1980s than Mai 68).
With systematic oppression and non-existence of parties and political organisations, the student movement in Iran has been a key political field (think more Korea in 1980s than Mai 68).
Another important feature of the #16Azar protests, pretty much like the "Woman, Life, Freedom" slogan, is that its history gives it an in-built defence against reactionary hijacking.
And that matters a lot for Iran! Where political field is dominated by organised reactionaries.
And that matters a lot for Iran! Where political field is dominated by organised reactionaries.
We know that the regime is in disarray. After three months they say they want to dissolve the Morality Police.
But the protests also have a long way to match the revolutionary aspirations they have.
In this context, 7 Dec (#16Azar) is a day to watch.
But the protests also have a long way to match the revolutionary aspirations they have.
In this context, 7 Dec (#16Azar) is a day to watch.
