Talking About Tehran

On March 16, 2010, New America welcomed James K. Glassman, to discuss how strategic communications could play a key role in U.S. diplomacy with Iran. James Glassman began his presentation by emphasizing the need to achieve concrete national security goals when practicing diplomacy. Today, Glassman asserted, Iran and its nuclear ambitions are a severe threat to American security. An overthrow of the Iranian leadership, Glassman argued, is necessary if the U.S. desires Iran to remain non-nuclear. An Iranian regime changeover by American military means, however, is neither plausible nor desirable. Glassman instead suggested that the United States bolster the Green Revolution with strategic communications and allow the Iranian people to initiate a change in leadership.

Glassman outlined four ways in which the United States could wield social media in order to strengthen the Green Revolution in Iran. First, he said, America should provide moral and educational support to the Green Revolution. Journalists and politicians should publicize reports on the successful tactics used in the Orange Revolution in Ukraine and the Rose Revolution in Georgia. Publishers should print and distribute Farsi translations of guides to nonviolent change, such as Gene Sharp’s “From Dictatorship to Democracy.” Second, Glassman lectured, the United States should tighten sanctions on the Iranian economy and publicize the connection between the regime’s belligerent foreign policy and the country’s economic decay. Third, the United States should help increase communications within Iran and those between Iran and the rest of the world, by broadcasting the Voice of America more vigorously and protesting attempts by the Iranian government to jam broadcast signals. Fourth, Glassman concluded, America must combat the Iranian propaganda, which claims that the United States seeks to keep Iran poor and underdeveloped. Government and colleges should reach out to Iranian students and offer seminars, foreign study programs, and access to more advanced technology. In Glassman’s words, America must use social media, or “soft power,” to reach out to foreign publics. In doing so, the nation will achieve hard national security objectives.

–Kalie Pierce, Research Intern with the American Strategy Program

Participants

featured speaker
James K. Glassman
Director, George W. Bush Institute
former Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs

moderator
Steve Clemons
Director, American Strategy Program
New America Foundation
Publisher, The Washington Note