Regime and Opposition in Iran

The tumultuous events that rocked Iran after the June election suggest that the conflict between regime and opposition is far from over. Indeed, the "Ashura Protests" of December 2009 tell a different story: of a regime that is struggling to hold on to power and some shred of legitimacy, and an opposition that is looking for ways to unify as it confronts state violence.

How will the evolving clash between regime and opposition affect the stability of the Islamic Republic, on the one hand, and its foreign relations, on the other? What are the implications for recent events for the Obama administration's efforts to engage Iran and deflect its efforts to build what many experts believe is a nuclear arms capacity?

To explore these and other related question, USIP invited an expert panel to engage in a public discussion, featuring live-streaming web-video and live chat. 

Speakers

• Abiodun Williams, Chair
  Vice President, Conflict Analysis and Prevention, U.S. Institute of Peace
• Daniel Brumberg
  Acting Director, Muslim World Initiative, U.S. Institute of Peace
  Topic: Repression and Resistance in a Divided Society
  
• Robin Wright
  Jennings Randolph Senior Fellow, U.S. Institute of Peace
  Topic: In Search of Unity:  Iran’s Opposition
  Read Robin Wright's testimony to Congress on Iran's Green Movement
• Fatemeh Haghighatjoo, Reformist Member of Iranian Parliament (2000-2004)
  Visiting Scholar, University of Massachusetts
  Topic: The Future of Iran’s Opposition
• Suzanne Maloney
  Resident Scholar, Saban Center, The Brookings Institution
  Topic:  The Regime:  Where are the Fissures?
• George Lopez
  Jennings Randolph Senior Fellow, U.S. Institute of Peace
  Topic: Implications for U.S.-Iranian Engagement
  Read George Lopez's testimony to Congress on Sanctions

Explore Further

• Listen to the event audio