Elections in Authoritarian Russia and Iran Produce Similar Results

     Although there were some key differences, the elections in both Russia and Iran were remarkably similar. Predictably, the authoritarian regimes in both states won. 

     In Russia, Vladimir Putin was returned to the office of the presidency. He had remained the power behind the Premier in the meantime. His election followed a recent parliamentary election in which his allies easily won. Both elections were characterized by state control of the media, limits on freedom of assembly and intimidation of opponents, which created an atmosphere of little competition, except mostly from fringe candidates. Both elections were also marred by widespread fraud. The parliamentary elections produced the largest public protests of Putin’s regime. The Russian people would have to rise up much more forcefully after the presidential election in order to effect real change in Russian government. 

     In the parliamentary elections in Iran, the hard-line theocratic forces defeated an attempt by the President to gain independence from the mullahs. Those opposed to the theocracy, and increasingly even moderates, are barred even from running for office. The elections suggest that the Islamic Republic’s crackdown on dissent has been unusually effective. There were fewer allegations of fraud this time because there was less competition tolerated.

     Iran’s regime is similar to Communist regimes. The mullahs, like Communist Party officials, are the real powers, despite elections for civil officials. The officials owe their allegiance to the mullahs in Iran, just as they do the Communist Party in Communist states. Communist Putin’s authoritarian regime is also reminiscent of Communist regimes, but it is less overt, as it maintains more of a façade of democracy. The freedoms of religion and speech are somewhat tolerated, but not of assembly or press, while the rule of law is arbitrary. There is no question, however, that both Russia and Iran are dictatorships, to one degree or another. Therefore, these periodic elections are not likely to liberate the Russian and Iranian people until these peoples are able to bring much greater pressure on their governments for freedom.