In a September 10, 2009 speech to university professors, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad critiqued "the West's theory of development," which he said was aimed at "the dominance of liberal democracy, the establishment of a free market economy, the favoring of moral relativism, and the non-interference of moral values in social relations." He argued that this theory had reached a dead end, and that it was Iran's role to give the world an alternative model for advancement - one based on "divine and idealistic values rather than material ones," and on the society of Ali ibn Abi Talib and the Mahdi.
At a September 8, 2009 farewell ceremony for outgoing Iranian Intelligence Minister MohseniEjei,Ahmadinejad said that the mission of Iran’s Islamic regime was to raise the banner of Mahdism (i.e. the message of the Mahdi's imminent arrival) throughout the world.
Following are excerpts from an English translation of his September 10 speech, as published by Press TV. [1]
The Western Theory of Development "Has Reached a Dead End"
"If we accept the dominant [global] order for development, we will not get anywhere for a thousand years, because the origins of this theory are elsewhere [i.e. in the West], and the rules of development were formulated by them. Iran's nation and society [possess] all the necessary elements for a leap towards growth and superiority, but what prevents the nation's leap is the absence of a clear definition of the ultimate goal.
"In Western society, according to the theory of development, all efforts are aimed at the dominance of liberal democracy, the establishment of a free market economy, the favoring of moral relativism, and the non-interference of moral values in social relations. This [approach] has a dark future, but all efforts are along [these lines]. According to this theory, U.S. society has reached the peak of social development, and, [in order] to paint the world in their own shade, they have created various international bodies [oriented towards] their particular culture, and they try to sway the countries of the world to fall into line with them.
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"It is evident that this theory has reached a dead end, and even if we want to [follow] its path, this road will end in a precipice."
"Can the World Imagine a Template for the Past, Present, and Future of Human Society That Is Superior to the society of Ali and the Mahdi?"
"Our nation, with its ancient cultural heritage and its [adherence] to a [set] of divine and idealistic values, cannot in any way walk along a path which has been defined [based] on material values. Can the world imagine a template for the past, present, and future of human society that is superior to the society of Ali [ibn Abi Talib, the first Shi'ite Imam] and the Mahdi, [the Shi'ite messiah]?"
Alluding to the results of the June 12 elections, Ahmadinejad said: "[Even] if there are a thousand elections in Iran, with 100 percent participation, in the opinion [of the West], they will still not be democratic."
He continued: "We have no alternative except returning to ourselves, and the duty of the universities in Iran is to [outline] our utopia and our ideal society, so that all forces and potentials move in that direction, and so that we have a society with its own economy, culture, politics, and art."
"Our enemies cunningly and intelligently try to [preoccupy] us with small concerns, so that we do not think and achieve great goals.
"Today the world [is] disappointed with the dominance of the [Western] theory of development, and has reached a dead end. Today our mission is not limited to the internal affairs of [our] country; it is a worldwide mission to open a way for global human society to escape from this disappointing situation."
Endnote:
[1] Press TV (Iran), September 10, 2009. The text has been lightly edited for clarity.
