How Iran has changed in the past four decades
Iran is a country of contrasts, where ancient traditions coexist with modern aspirations, where religious fervor clashes with secular desires, and where political turmoil shapes social dynamics. Iran has witnessed remarkable changes in its politics, society, and economy since the 1979 Islamic revolution that overthrew the monarchy and established a theocratic regime. In this post, I will explore some of the main aspects of this evolution and how they have affected the lives of ordinary Iranians.
Politics: From revolution to factionalism
The 1979 revolution was a watershed moment in Iran’s history, as it marked the end of a pro-Western monarchy that had ruled the country for more than half a century and the beginning of an anti-Western republic that challenged the regional and global order. The revolution was driven by a coalition of various political and social forces, such as clerics, leftists, nationalists, and bazaar merchants, who opposed the Shah’s authoritarianism, corruption, and dependence on foreign powers. However, after the revolution, the clerical faction consolidated its power and marginalized or suppressed other groups. The supreme leader, who is the highest religious and political authority in Iran, appoints key institutions and oversees all branches of government. The president, who is elected by popular vote, has limited executive powers and is subordinate to the supreme leader. The parliament, which is also elected by the people, can pass laws but is subject to the approval of the Guardian Council, a body of 12 jurists who can veto any legislation deemed incompatible with Islam or the constitution.
Iran’s political system has been characterized by factionalism and rivalry between conservatives, who uphold the principles of the revolution and resist reforms, and moderates or reformists, who seek more openness and engagement with the world. Some of the major political events in Iran’s post-revolutionary history include: the Iran-Iraq war (1980–1988), which claimed hundreds of thousands of lives and inflicted severe economic and social damage; the death of Khomeini in 1989 and the succession of Ali Khamenei as the supreme leader; the presidency of Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani (1989–1997), who pursued economic liberalization and pragmatism in foreign policy; the presidency of Mohammad Khatami (1997–2005), who initiated a reform movement that expanded civil liberties and dialogue with the West; the presidency of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (2005–2013), who reversed many of Khatami’s reforms and adopted a hardline stance on nuclear issues and regional conflicts; the presidency of Hassan Rouhani (2013–2021), who negotiated a landmark nuclear deal with world powers in 2015 that lifted sanctions in exchange for curbing Iran’s nuclear program; and the presidency of Ebrahim Raisi (2021-present), a conservative cleric and former judiciary chief who won a low-turnout election amid widespread public discontent and economic crisis .
Society: From homogeneity to diversity
Iran’s society has experienced profound transformations in terms of demographics, culture, education, health, and human rights. The population of Iran has more than doubled since 1979, reaching about 85 million in 2020. The majority of Iranians are under 30 years old, urbanized, educated, and connected to the internet. Iran has made significant progress in literacy, especially among women, who now outnumber men in universities. Iran has also improved its health indicators, such as life expectancy, infant mortality, and maternal health. However, Iran also faces serious challenges, such as unemployment, poverty, inequality, environmental degradation, drug addiction, and brain drain .
Iranian society is diverse and complex, comprising various ethnicities, languages, religions, and subcultures. The dominant group is Persian, who speak Farsi and adhere to Shia Islam. Other groups include Azeris, Kurds, Arabs, Baluchis, Turkmen, Lurs, Gilakis, Mazandaranis, Qashqais, Bakhtiaris, Armenians, Assyrians, Jews, Zoroastrians, Baha’is, Sunnis, Sufis, and others . Iranian culture is rich and vibrant, reflecting its ancient history and civilization as well as its modern influences and innovations. Iran has produced renowned poets, writers, artists, musicians, filmmakers, scientists, and scholars. Iran has also developed a dynamic civil society, composed of various NGOs, activists, journalists, lawyers, students, workers, and women’s groups, who have advocated for democracy, human rights, social justice, and peace . However, Iranian society has also suffered from repression, censorship, discrimination, and violence under the Islamic regime. The authorities have imposed strict laws and norms on personal behavior, dress code, gender relations, religious expression, and political dissent. The security forces have cracked down on protests, dissidents, minorities, and civil society actors. The judiciary has handed down harsh sentences, including death penalty, for crimes such as apostasy, blasphemy, adultery, homosexuality, and drug trafficking. The human rights situation in Iran has been widely criticized by domestic and international organizations .
Economy: From oil boom to bust
Iran’s economy has undergone periods of growth and decline, depending on various factors such as oil prices, sanctions, war, corruption, mismanagement, and structural reforms. Iran has the world’s fourth-largest proven oil reserves and the second-largest proven gas reserves, making it a major energy producer and exporter. Oil revenues have been the main source of income for the government and have enabled it to provide subsidies and welfare programs for the population. However, oil dependence has also made Iran vulnerable to external shocks and fluctuations in the global market. Iran has also faced economic isolation and pressure from the international community due to its nuclear activities and support for militant groups in the region. The United States and its allies have imposed various sanctions on Iran since 1979, targeting its oil exports, banking system, trade, and investment. The sanctions have had a severe impact on Iran’s economy, causing inflation, devaluation, recession, and hardship for ordinary Iranians .
Iran has attempted to diversify its economy and reduce its reliance on oil by developing other sectors such as agriculture, industry, services, and tourism. Iran has also sought to expand its trade and investment ties with other countries, especially in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Iran has also implemented some economic reforms, such as privatization, deregulation, taxation, and subsidy rationalization. However, Iran’s economic performance has been hampered by structural problems, such as corruption, inefficiency, bureaucracy, misallocation of resources, and lack of transparency and accountability .
Conclusion: From stability to uncertainty
Iran is a country that has undergone remarkable changes in the past four decades, but also faces many challenges and uncertainties. Iran’s politics, society, and economy have evolved in different directions and at different paces, creating tensions and contradictions within the country and with the outside world. Iran’s future will depend on how it manages its internal dynamics and external relations, how it balances its revolutionary ideals and pragmatic realities, and how it responds to the aspirations and demands of its people.
