The announcement that a motion to expand the political voice of Iran's civilian militia corps, the Basij, better known for launching violent attacks on street protesters in the aftermath of last year's presidential elections, is a clear and uncomfortable indication that the government of Iran is under the increasing control of military powers. The notion that it is the military that is really calling the shots in Iran has been bandied about by analysts for some time now and the Iranian authorities only seem to be confirming it. Wider decision-making powers have been granted to the formidable Revolutionary Guard and its vast paramilitary network. With a political voice, the Basij is no longer a loosely organized paramilitary force dedicated to the maintenance of an unpopular government in power. It is now becoming a cohesive force with increasing channels to Iran's leadership and security apparatus. Unsurprisingly, the Basij is comprised primarily of poor and and largely uneducated members. By opening the doors to greater Basij involvement in the government, those members will regard the organization as a means of power and social mobility, making it easier to recruit new members. Any government that relies increasingly on martial forces to sustain itself in power is a government that is becoming increasingly unpopular with the people it rules. By undermining its own economy and educational system, it places organizations such as the military in the position of offering one of the few channels for social improvement and status. It happens in right-wing and left-wing governments and any other kind of government that utilizes strong-arm rule. As Iran feels itself threatened by an increasingly restless educated class and pressured by international powers to curtail its nuclear program, it is turning inward and securing its existence within its own borders. None of this is good for the Iranian people. __
