The Role of the Middle Class in Iran’s Political Transformations from the Perspective of Samuel Huntington and Karl Deutsch

Abstract

The middle class has always been an influential and determining force in the political transformations of societies. This article, focusing on the perspectives of Samuel Huntington and Karl Deutsch, analyzes and examines the role of this class in Iran’s political transformations. Huntington’s perspective emphasizes the link between economic development and the formation of a modern middle class. He views the middle class as a driving force in democratic reforms and transformations, believing that with economic growth, increased education, and awareness, this class demands greater political participation and structural reforms in political systems. In Iran, the middle class, as a reform-seeking force, has played a key role in various periods, from the Constitutional Revolution to the Islamic Revolution and contemporary protest movements. On the other hand, Karl Deutsch emphasizes the role of communication and networking, arguing that the middle class, through access to information resources, mass communication tools, and organizational capabilities, plays a fundamental role in the political mobilization of society and the transmission of collective demands to political elites. From this perspective, Iran has also witnessed the middle class's role in expanding pro-democracy discourses and strengthening social movements. Ultimately, the article concludes that Iran’s middle class, due to its high level of awareness, access to information resources, and social networking capabilities, is a fundamental factor in the country’s political transformations. This class not only acts as a reformist and transformation-seeking force but also, due to its intermediary position between political elites and the masses, plays a stable role in political processes. Examining this role from the perspective of two prominent theorists provides an analytical tool for a better understanding of the complexities of Iran’s political transformations.