The article, penned by Anna Jarstad, a political science professor at Uppsala University, asserts that the recent justifications by the US and Israel for military action against Iran, premised on the belief that this could foster freedom and democracy, are fundamentally flawed. It acknowledges isolated instances where military intervention has resulted in democratic outcomes but emphasizes that these are overshadowed by numerous cases of failure. Jarstad critically examines the widespread notion in the West, particularly following the September 11 attacks, that war can facilitate democracy, connecting it to previous military actions in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Jarstad argues that the idea of exporting democracy through military means is deeply rooted in Western discourse, but it often disregards the complex realities of the affected nations, in this case, Iran. She highlights that such interventions rarely consider the local sociopolitical contexts or the historical background of the countries involved. Consequently, the premise that external forces can instigate democratic change through military action is misleading and oversimplifies a deeply complex problem.

The piece calls for a more nuanced understanding of democracy's roots and the ways it can evolve organically within societies. It underscores the need for supporting internal movements for change rather than relying on military solutions, which have repeatedly shown to lead to unintended consequences and prolonged conflicts. Thus, Jarstad advocates for a reevaluation of how democratic ideals are pursued in international relations, especially in regions like Iran where the desire for freedom exists, but the approach to achieving it must be fundamentally different from past interventions.