Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 Associate Professor, Department of Political Sciences, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
2 Ph.D Student, Political Sciences, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
Introduction
During the transition from the Pahlavi regime to the Islamic Republic, a central revolutionary value was the struggle against economic corruption, class disparity, and the concentration of national capital in the hands of a ruling minority. These conditions had fostered a deep and widespread sense of deprivation among the population over many years. Efforts to address this issue seemed feasible through the devaluation of wealth and the promotion of values such as equality and social justice. The present study aimed to examine the transformation of the concept of wealth in Iran after the Islamic Revolution.
Literature Review
Numerous studies have explored the changes across various domains following the Islamic Revolution, including economics, culture, and value systems. For instance, the Persian-language book titled Iran’s Economy Before and After the Islamic Revolution (Dadgar, 2012) offered a critical analysis of Iran’s economic performance before and after the Revolution, shedding light on social welfare levels and factors influencing human development. Dadgar’s work elucidates the path taken by post-Revolutionary economic policymakers and the underlying values that guided them. In the Persian-language monograph titled Revolution and Values: A Study on the Evolution of Values in the Light of the Islamic Revolution, Zoelm (2009) contends that the Revolution’s leaders characterized it as a revolution of values. Relying on a field study, he concludes that while the Revolution’s goals were largely realized in its early years, subsequent developments led to a decline in these original values and a rise in public discontent. Moreover, Aryan’s M.A. thesis titled The Effects of the Islamic Revolution and the Gulf War on Iran’s Economy (1989) examined the impact of factors such as the Iran–Iraq War, modernization trends, and oil on Islamic economic theories. Aryan argues that underdeveloped infrastructure, among other factors, hindered the realization of many of the goals and values established in the Revolution’s early years. The novelty of the present research lies in its focus on the transformation process itself, closely examining how factors such as popular culture and the discourse of development have played pivotal roles in the erosion of the Revolution’s original values and in shaping the current situation.
Materials and Methods
The present research employed a combination of documentary and descriptive–analytical methods. The documentary method was used to gain insight into the goals and values articulated during the early years following the Islamic Revolution. In addition, a descriptive-analytical approach was adopted to thoroughly examine the unfolding processes and provide a comprehensive overview of the situation. The study also used Ted Robert Gurr’s theory of relative deprivation as its theoretical framework. According to this theory, a sense of deprivation and discontent arises when there is a growing gap between value expectations (what people believe they are entitled to) and value capabilities (what they perceive they can achieve).
Results and Discussion
In post-Revolutionary Iran, values such as justice and equality were promoted, aligning with the public’s mental framework and religious beliefs. However, subsequent shifts in practice challenged these expectations, creating conditions conducive to a sense of relative deprivation. Deeply shaped by religious beliefs, the pursuit of equality and social justice has long been a central aspect of Iranian culture. When this pursuit aligned with the principles championed by the architects of the Islamic Revolution, it set in motion a profound societal transformation. The principle of equality became a powerful catalyst for the Revolution, and the people’s unwavering belief in the establishment of revolutionary values fostered high expectations. However, since its inception, the ruling system of the Islamic Republic has undertaken a long and complex journey to achieve its objectives. The process of devaluing wealth and realizing justice has been gradual rather than immediate. The slow progress in meeting these goals gave rise to a new sense of deprivation within the collective consciousness. When the anticipated achievements diverged sharply from what was attainable, a sense of relative deprivation emerged as the primary repercussion experienced by the public.
Conclusion
The current inquiry focused on the performance of post-Revolutionary governments, the actions of self-serving individuals in positions of authority, and the influence of both domestic and foreign factors. It concludes that in the early years of the Islamic Revolution, some justice-oriented objectives showed signs of progress. However, various challenges—including the imposed Iran–Iraq War and subsequent economic imperatives such as modernization and development—acted as impediments, delaying the realization of the cherished ideal of social justice. For a populace that had envisioned a society free from inequality and had passionately worked toward its realization, this outcome fostered a collective sense of relative deprivation. Although the process of wealth devaluation should be understood as a long-term endeavor, recent deviations from the core path of social justice—caused by the inadequate performance of certain state officials—highlight the need for fundamental reforms. Achieving the ideal socio-economic model, grounded in the teachings of Islam, depends on overcoming these obstacles and returning to the authentic values of the Islamic Revolution.
Keywords
Main Subjects
In Persian
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