Iran has historically dominated the region without resorting to aggression, invasion of a neighbor or violence. Persians influenced and transformed their invaders with reason, philosophical thought and scientific contributions. Back in 1906, Iran was the first country in the region to establish a democratic system with an elected parliament and a constitutional monarchy. After researching the Belgian and Bulgarian systems of monarchy and mining the Napoleonic Codes for civil and criminal law, Iran implemented its own constitution. Most of those laws remain enforced today.

Some 100 years later, the world wonders whether the Middle East will surf the wave of democracy. But much of Middle East is still pondering such mundane issues as universal suffrage and a woman's right to work (or, in case of Saudi Arabia, to drive cars or possess national identity cards). In these other countries, issues such as constitutional guaranties for religious freedoms may may prove too complex for the political elites.

The stability and safety of any region always hinges on its ability to transfer political power in an orderly way. The greater Middle East is no exception. Iran undoubtedly lives in a tough neighborhood. None of the newly independent neighbors in Central Asia, the Caucuses, or any of the Persian Gulf states that gained independence only 35-40 years ago have developed open systems for transferring power. Kuwaitis didn't follow through with their elections. Qatar suffered a coup within the ruling family. Iraq and Afghanistan are, at best, uncertain and fragile.

As regional examples of orderly political change are rare, we can look at Iran's positive influence on democracy in Iraq. The Iraqi elections showed us that Iran can provide a model for an orderly system of voting, political groupings, and measured, mature responses to car bombings and violence.

The world ought to work with the best living example of democracy in the region -- Iran, imperfections and all.