The Islamic Republic of Iran’s attempt to bolster its power among some Asian countries such as India has involved a variety of political and economical decisions. While it has tried to improve its influence among the Indian Muslim communities, it has found the energy as the best way to grow its relations with the Indian government to make strategic ties. Although Iran has followed these policies for many years, it seems that it does not have its previous influences among the Indian Muslims. In addition, Iran’s oil and gas production besides its energy relations have been limited due to some internal and international factors such as energy sanctions imposed by U.S. The present study attempts to analyze the factors behind Iran’s undermined role in India.
There were several attempts and protests against the state during the Qajar dynasty which finally ended to the Persian Constitutional Revolution (Mashrooteh). The role of nomadic tribes, traditional middle class including merchants and ulama along with the new middle class has been considered important in the revolution by different scholars. However, it seems that the economic changes result of relationship with the West also was significant in increasing the demand for social justices and political freedom .To understand the issue with emphasizing on the role of traditional and new middle class, the reasons which caused the revolution will be reviewed.
There are different definitions and opinions about the rise of the middle class in different areas and countries. This is because historically the rise of the middle class has brought change in society, politically and economically. This claim is based on the historical role of the middle class as an important element of change in society, political transitions and ending authoritarian regimes in developed countries. With attention to the role of the middle class and the process of social and political change in developed countries, it can be argued that a capable middle class is requested, for changing and creating a real democratic future in Iran. However, due to the role of the state it can be seen that an emerging and rising middle class in Iran has differed with developed countries. This has had an effect on the characters of the middle class and as the result its role in the democratization and development of Iran.
Wpływ kultury zachodniej i wysiłki rodzimych intelektualistów zaledwie zarysowały powierzchnię tradycyjnych praktyk wobec kobiet w dziewiętnastowiecznym Iranie. Doprowadziły one jednak do powstania ruchów społecznych, takich jak ruch na rzecz praw kobiet. Modernizacja i wzrost gospodarczy napędzały trwające w XX wieku procesy industrializacji i urbanizacji w Iranie. Modernizacja zmieniła także strukturę społeczną, tworząc nową klasę średnią. Oczekiwano, że wzrost gospodarczy i wyższy poziom wykształcenia skłonią nową klasę średnią do żądania większej odpowiedzialności politycznej, co z kolei doprowadzi do wzmocnienia pozycji kobiet. Nowa klasa średnia uczestniczyła w rewolucji 1979 r., której rezultatem było ugruntowanie przywództwa religijnego. Rząd rewolucyjny odnowił tradycyjne praktyki szyickie, w tym tradycyjne normy dotyczące kobiet. Od czasu rewolucji, pomimo narzucenia prawa islamskiego, wzrósł poziom alfabetyzacji oraz dostęp do szkolnictwa wyższego, szczególnie dla kobiet. Doprowadziło to do obudzenia świadomości kobiet w zakresie ich praw i wysiłków zmierzających do ich realizacji w praktyce. Nieoczekiwanie jednak nowa klasa średnia wahała się przejść na stronę rewolucji i przyłączyć się do protestujących. W badaniu tym założono, że edukacja umożliwia kobietom skonfrontowanie się z ich tradycyjnymi rolami w rodzinie. Zmiana pozycji kobiet jest jednak procesem zmiany kulturowej, spójnym zarówno z rozwojem społeczno-gospodarczym, jak i powstaniem silnej klasy średniej.
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The influence of Western culture and the efforts of domestic intellectuals merely scratched the surface of pre-existing and traditional practices towards women in nineteenth-century Iran. However, they led to the rise of social movements, such as the women's rights movement. Modernisation and economic growth drove ongoing processes of industrialization and urbanization during the twentieth century in Iran. Modernization also changed the social structure by creating a new middle class. It is expected that economic growth and educational attainment would empower the new middle class to demand greater political accountability, which, in turn, would lead to women's empowerment. The new middle class participated in the 1979 revolution, the outcome of which was to accelerate the rise of religious leadership. The revolutionary government renewed traditional Shiʿite practices, including traditional norms concerning women. Since the revolution, despite the imposition of Islamic law, the level of literacy and access to higher education, particularly for women, has escalated. This has led to women's awareness of their rights and their struggles to realize them in practice. However, unexpectedly, the new middle class hesitated in turning revolutionary and in joining the protestors. This research assumes that education enables women to confront their traditional roles in the family. Nevertheless, changing women's position is a process of cultural change that is coherent with both socio-economic development and the rise of a strong middle class.
The dominant view towards the Middle East is that the region is stuck in the past and plagued by conflict. Therefore, it was anticipated that Middle Eastern states would take a side in the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Despite expressing sympathy for Ukrainians due to their own experiences of humiliation caused by several wars, the Middle Eastern people and states remained cautious and chose to avoid getting involved in the conflict. It seems that the view of the Middle Eastern middle class had an influence on state decision-making regarding involvement in the war in Ukraine. Considering the rise of an educated middle class in the region, it can be hypothesized that the middle class’s priority is political-economic instability rather than engaging in further wars. The objective of this research is to comprehensively understand the Middle Eastern middle class’s viewpoint on war.
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