Hatred of a regime does not necessarily make people willing to risk their lives to overthrow it. That distinction is central to understanding why the Islamic Republic of Iran has survived repeated waves of public anger. Many Iranians deeply resent the Islamic regime and wish to see it gone, but wanting political change is very different from being prepared to confront a ruling system that has repeatedly shown its willingness to imprison, torture and kill those who challenge its authority. The decisive question, therefore, is not simply how unpopular the regime has become. It is what can make enough people overcome their fear of the consequences of a revolt.

Two forces can push people across that threshold. The first is when people feel their dignity has been violated and humiliation becomes harder to endure than the risks of confronting the regime. The second is severe hunger, when life under the existing order becomes less bearable than risking death to change it. These forces affect Iran’s nationalities differently, helping explain both the intensity of repeated protests and their failure, so far, to bring down the regime.

Among Kurds and Baluchis, dignity has long carried particular political weight. For many within these nationalities, dignity means more than personal respect. It means being able to live freely as Kurds or Baluchis without having to suppress who they are, while enjoying the same political, cultural and social standing as other citizens. When the regime treats their identity,........

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