As a matter of policy, governments in the post-revolutionary Iran have prioritized sustainable development and national progress. Save for the constraints in almost all developing economies and given the consequences of the state after 1979, their levels of success can be described as acceptable.
It is obvious that had it not been for the selfless efforts of the nation at large, the peoples’ resilience and strong belief that ’progress comes under pressure’; we would not have ranked among top 20 countries of the world in terms of economic growth. The country would now have been grappling with more problems than it can possibly solve.
However, if we consider the performance of different governments over the past quarter century, it is not difficult to come to the conclusion that the situation should have been better than what it presently is. So, what has marred higher rates of growth?
The fact is that declared development targets and plans of action have faced hurdles, some of them major, because of the lack of continuity of macro plans. In short, each new government that comes to office in Tehran instead of continuing and supporting the good work of its predecessor as would be expected, turns backwards and at times tends to start from scratch.
For example in the crucial economic arena, one government gives priority to free trade and advances its related agenda to a certain degree. Its successor finds “colossal errors“ in its plans and accuses of “misplacing priorities“, makes a U-turn and embarks on the path to the centralized economy.
The team that comes after these two, seeks to dismantle entire structures, is amazingly indifferent to the pluses of the two earlier systems and insists that a dynamic cooperative sector is the only way to progress, prosperity and justice!
Then on the cultural landscape, one government provides more space for cultural and artistic freedoms and creates more openness.
But, the one that comes next, without respecting the work and effort of its predecessor, and without heeding the plans and programs of the outgoing establishment, calls for restrictions to help curtail “detrimental alien cultural inroads.“
Give and take a few exceptions, almost the same situation applies in politics and other domains. This is why we have not progressed as we deserve. This is indeed the troubling premise our senior officials and experts have focused on and hence charted out what has been published as ’Vision 2025’. The 20-year national charter obliges all incoming governments to function under a specific framework. Those who miss the mark, take a reverse course, or tend to detour can do so at their own peril.
This year is the first year of the 20-year plan and all eyes are set on good governance and the ability of the government to play by the rules.
To this end it is crucial that parliament, the State Expediency Council (SEC) and relevant institutions exercise more supervision over the implementation of the long-term plan. Lethargy or diversion from the plan, even in the early stages, can entail unwanted consequences.