The New Middle Class and Transition to Democracy in the Islamic Republic of Iran

Abstract

The purpose of the present study is to explain the role of new middle class in the process of transition to democracy after Islamic revolution in Iran. In this regard, the main research question of the study is what effect the spread of new middle class has had on the process of transition to democracy in Iran. The method of the study was descriptive analysis and the results showed that vast economic and social modernization after the war between Iran and Iraq increased the youth population, the number of academically educated people, and the spread of new middle class in Iran that had an important role in paving the way for transition to democracy. The political and economic demands of this class reacted to the establishment that was not capable to meet their needs and it led to some sort of instability within the recent decades. Seeking development by the new middle class has brought about challenges for the political system of the country that is making transition to democracy more likely.

Keywords

• democracy
• new middle class
• political participation