Reports
Discussion Papers
No.019 Structural Changes and Formation of Rūstā-shahr in Post-Revolutionary Rural Society in Iran
December 2004
ABSTRACT
The
following
paper
is
based
on
the
author's
two-year
research
and
fieldwork
in
Iran
and
examines
the
process
of
political
and
social
changes
since
the
Iranian
Revolution
of
1979
and
the
subsequent
impact
of
the
Iran-Iraq
War
of
1980-88.
This
paper
focuses
on
the
transition
of
traditional,
small
villages
into
rūstā-shahr
or
small
rural
cities
and
the
first
and
second
nation-wide
elections
of
shourā
or
councils
which
were
the
first
steps
toward
self-government.
The
author
is
guardedly
optimistic
regarding
this
democratic
process
but
warns
of
possible
future
social
unrest
if
changes
are
not
more
"balanced"
between
cities
and
rural
areas
and
if
the
employment
needs
of
the
burgeoning
younger
generation
are
not
met,
political
and
social
consequences
may
be
catastrophic.
Keywords:
Iran,
rural
society,
social
transformation,
local
election.
For the final version of its contents, you should consult below:
"The Shaping of Rusta-shahrs and the Emergence of Self-Governance in the Post-Revolutionary Rural Societies of Iran," Tsugitaka Sato (ed), Development of Parliamentalism in the Modern Islamic World, Toyo Bunko, 2009, pp.154-175.
Please note that discussion papers are works in various stages of progress and most have not been edited and proofread and may contain errors of fact or judgment. Revised versions of these papers may subsequently appear in more formal publication series. The views expressed in this publication are those of the author(s). The IDE does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included and accepts no responsibility for any consequences arising from its use.