Because social media discourse deflects attention away from physical consequences of war towards almost metaphysical debates about leadership will and national character a lot of people end up neglecting how structural economic factors shape long term outcomes
I guess the question is, to what extent are the people currently running Iran responsive to the plight of Iranian small business owners - and what shape and direction will the anger of such business owners take?
The economy was approaching death spiral before this war started. Hyperinflation triggered the revolt in January. The regime might have repressive capacity to keep revolts down for now, but collapse of electricity grid, supply chains, water supply and currency will affect its freedom of action
I guess the flipside of that equation from their perspective might be, soon after the bombs stop falling people might start asking the reasonable question of why the state is failing to provide basic services...
... it's a lot easier to explain why nothing works when the Great Satan is bombing.
Alexander Clarkson
Dmitry Grozoubinski