(PSM8) A Society in Flux: Iran, Five Decades After the 1979 Revolution

Almost five decades, or two generations, after its historical 1979 revolution, the Iranian society seems to be witnessing another major socio-political transformation. The signs of this transformation were most evident through the 2022 massive protests (known as the Mahsa Movement) that swept across the country. What are the characteristics of this newly emerging society? In what ways is today's Iran different from, or similar to, the society that produced the 1979 revolution? What types of future can be imagined and/or expected for the country? How can sociology contribute to a deeper understanding of this transformation, beyond what mainstream journalism or social media can offer? These are the broad questions that this session aims to address. Tags: Politics, Social Movements

Organizer: Abdie Kazemipur, University of Calgary; Chair: Abdie Kazemipur, University of Calgary

Presentations

Omid Asayesh, University of Calgary; Abdie Kazemipur, University of Calgary

To Revolt or Not to Revolt: The Interplay of Migration Desires and Political Activism in Iran

Iran, a nation grappling with political oppression, economic crises, and societal conflicts, has witnessed a surge in discontent over recent decades, sparking various social movements. Amidst these adversities, a substantial segment of the population perceives international migration as the sole path to redemption. This research explores the nexus between the prevalent desire for migration in Iran and its potential impact on civic and political engagement. Data for the study is drawn from Social Media X (formerly Twitter) and Google Trends and analyzed using Machine Learning and Natural Language Processing techniques. Our analysis focuses on the discourse changes during the recent "Woman, Life, Freedom" movement in Iran. Findings reveal that aspirations for sociopolitical transformation during social movements have prompted shifts in migration-related discourses and a temporary decline in the desire for migration. However, this period of optimism proves transient, overshadowed by deeply ingrained cultural beliefs favouring migration as the primary alternative. The study underscores the cyclical nature of this dynamic and its implications for political activism in Iran.

Zohreh Bayatrizi, University of Alberta

Knowledge for Sale: Private Sociology Classes as a Form of Resistance in Iran?

This presentation examines aspects of the privatization trend in Iranian sociology by studying changes in teaching in the past two decades. Sociology is a highly politicized field in Iran (both by the state and its critics), and the teaching of sociology has long been constrained by political considerations and censorship, underfunding, and hiring policies that prioritize ideological over academic qualifications. Fee-based private courses outside the university that target specific topics have emerged in large part in response to the weakness in the content of higher education and student demands for better quality. We analyze these classes as evidence of the resilience shown by sociology, young scholars, and by public intellectuals in Iran and as a response to state attempts at academic crackdowns in the aftermath of the Green Movement (2009) and the Women, Life, Liberty Movement (2022). These classes open up a limited space for freedom of expression and critique because they are not as tightly controlled as universities. At the same time, the risk is that they might supplant the need and desire for better quality public higher education and reduce the pressure on universities to act. Private classes might be categorized as a neoliberal, market-oriented, and individualized solution to a bigger political problem. In a sense, one can argue that an individual-centred ideology has emerged in the name of countering and resisting hegemonic state ideology.

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Non-presenting author: Reyhaneh Javadi, University of Alberta

Hamed Kazemzadeh, University of Ottawa; Abdie Kazemipur, University of Calgary

The Anatomy of Social Protest: The Case of Iran

Drawing on a rich set of data on the recent waves of social protest in Iran, we offer an overview of the main qualities of the oppositional social movement in Iran. The data reports the movements gender composition, provincial distribution, the types of demands, the main players, the nature of governments suppression of protests, the degree of violence, and the number of casualties. Together, these trends show a gradually shifting profile of the oppositional social movement in Iran. The implications of this shift for the future of Iran are discussed. 

Roodabeh Dehghani, University of Ottawa

Contemporary Sexual Dynamics in Iran: Modes of Governance of Sexuality in Post-revolutionary Iran

The examination of sexualitys policing, regulation, and control since the Islamic Revolution has been extensively explored. A crucial facet of the recent uprising in Iran revolves around contemporary sexual dynamics. While acknowledging that the state primarily regulates bodies through coercive enforcement of dress codes and related behavioral norms, insufficient attention has been directed towards non-state institutions and knowledge/truth production concerning sexuality. To address this aspect of sexual regulation, this paper introduces the concept of "Projects of Sexuality," informed by Foucaults governmentality framework. Governmentality research endeavors to scrutinize the body of knowledge shaping interventions in the world, spanning institutions like the state, discourses, norms, and identities, along with self-regulation and self-care techniques. The paper initiates with an overview of governmentality as envisioned by Michel Foucault and its convergence with discourse studies. It highlights the constrained adoption of Foucaults ideas in discourse analysis and the role of discourse in governmentality. Subsequently, the paper explores the Sociology of Knowledge Approach to Discourse (SKAD) as a potential framework, aligning more closely with governmentality than other discourse analysis methods. Emphasis is placed on SKADs capacity to tackle the discursive dimension of governmentality and its potential to offer fresh perspectives beyond Eurocentric narratives. Using practical knowledge on sexuality as data, particularly post-revolutionary religious and scientific knowledge production, the paper seeks to shed light on contemporary Projects of Sexuality in Iran.