Why Persia is falling behind India (as well as China and Europe)

[Silverbackman]

Persia (Iran), along with China, India, and Rome (today Europe) were considered the later shinning civilizations of the ancient worlds before the middle ages. Majority of the world lived under Sassanid Persia Empire, Gupta India Empire, Han China Empire, and the Caesar Roman Empire. Even before the later centuries dynasties of the ancient world these civilizations were the center of the sciences, arts, military, culture ect. While nearly all of them fell they have time and time again in history made a comeback.

Today we can see that China and India are nations headed for prosperity in the near future, similar to ancient times. Their economies and standards of living are rising much faster than many parts of the world. The European Union (where the old Roman Empire stood) is doing very well right now having the largest economies and if considered a single unit, a superpower.

But Persia (Iran) has fallen behind quite a bit. They have actually been in decline for quite a while and it seems nothing is improving there. From Islamic nutters to their drive to challenge the world has lead them no where.

Why do you think Persia, one of the great ancient civilizations as well as a medieval civilization has declined so much over the years?

[procchina]

Indian guys,one thing you must know is that iran's average GDP is more than 1000USD,but india's is less than 700USD

[Silverbackman]

You really need to site your sources Mr. "I wish the red army killed my grandfather".

[India1989]

India's GDP per capita is $3000.

http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/rankorder/2004rank.html

in that case Iran's GDP is even more then China's. But that doesn't prove anything.

Other factors also matter in developments. Maybe you dont' know that. You need to increase your knowledge.

[observer]

Iran's population is just 68 million compared to a billion plus population of India's and China's so their GDP per capita is naturally higher. That certainly doesn't prove much. For example even Mexico and Chile have much larger GDP per capita than China-- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...PP)_per_capita

Iran doesn't have any real thriving private sector I believe, just a state-controlled oil, based economy. And obviously it lacks a free, vibrant and modern media and has a regessive social environment.

I think Iran started facing reversal after the Islamic revolution there because the Mullahs came to power and banned this and that, isolating Iran from the rest of the world and thus from free trade and innovative economic development and growth. Whatever money they have is from selling oil and gas even which is not effeciently produced because the Mullahs don't let in very many oil-companies from the outside with the best technology to set up extraction fields and refineries.

Prior to the Islamic revolution, infact since very early 20th century, Iran had sensed the pulse of the modern world of the 20th century and had started developing socially, politically (Iran had democratic elections and a parliament all on its own in the 1910's or 1920's, can you imagine!) and economically. But the interferences by the western powers during the two world wars and then after another round of free and fair elections in 1950s, again by the US and UK crippled its self-inspired movement towards democracy.

Still under the Shah even if it lacked political freedom, it had social modernity and a developing economy. However after the Islamic Revolution in 1979, all these areas have been crippled by the ruling clergy there. So they did the most damage to Iran in the modern world in my view.

[Puneet Sood]

Iran has been ruled by the fanatic forces for a long time. In this process they have mostly removed the traces of the great culture they had even before the rise of Islam. A few persons who were determined to save their culture came to India and are the richest community of India. They have given so much to India.
I am talking of Parsis. Which shows that it was the one of the best cultures in the world.
But perhaps when the fanatic people rule over the country, the mind stops working.

[snower]

the most important reason is that the weather in the middle east changed. in the ancient time it was more moisture there, but it became dry in the recent 300 years.

and by the way, iran is still much richer than china and india. it would be much more natural to ask: why china and india lag behind iran?

[Puneet Sood]

Having richness through the oil is something different. But in new spectrum some areas, like China and India the tendency to modernise.
It is the attitude that is to be changed. Unfortunately in India, though people are marching ahead, the mindset has not been able to match the pace of development.

[Neo]

Why do you think Persia, one of the great ancient civilizations as well as a medieval civilization has declined so much over the years?

The parameters of development have changed. What you cite as shining examples of civilizations were great during that era. Humanity was still more focused on architecture, literature etc. Science and industries were not paramount. Agriculture was the mainstay of economies around the world

Present order world is different. Industries are paramount. Nations have to co exist. International trade is the norm of the day. Societies have to open up. Till china and india were closed, they were also nothing like they are today.

Iran refuses to accepts this fact. It still wants to be a closed society. Instead of going ahead its going back.