Rural Development and Social Transformation in Iran (Case of Study: Fars, Golestan and Kerman Provinces)

Subject Areas : Iranian Sociological Review

Farzaneh Mohammadi ^{1 *} , Mansour Vosoughi ²

1 - Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences, Arak Branch, Islamic Azad University, Arak, Iran
2 - Professor of Sociology, University of Tehran, Iran

Received: 2025-01-07 Accepted : 2025-03-15 Published : 2025-03-18

Keywords: Development, Social Transformation, Rural Development, Iran.,

Abstract :

This comprehensive study investigates the multifaceted dynamics of rural development and subsequent social transformation in Iran from the mid-20th century to the present. Iranian rural society, historically characterized by rigid feudal structures, has been subjected to intense, often contradictory, developmental pressures stemming from top-down state interventions—most notably the 1962 land reform, the Islamic Revolution of 1979, and subsequent neoliberal economic adjustments. The paper analyzes the enduring duality between centralized planning initiatives aimed at modernizing agricultural productivity and the emergent, bottom-up processes of social change driven by migration, shifts in labor dynamics, and evolving gender roles. Using a theoretical lens incorporating critiques of Modernization Theory, the application of Dependency Theory in the post-revolutionary context, and the lens of the Sustainable Rural Livelihoods (SRL) framework, this research seeks to map the complex trajectory of rural adaptation. Simulated findings suggest that while significant gains have been made in physical infrastructure and basic services, the transformation has resulted in uneven spatial development, heightened social stratification along educational and asset ownership lines, and a fundamental reordering of traditional authority structures. Furthermore, the resilience of rural populations is increasingly contingent upon access to non-farm income sources and the navigation of complex bureaucratic landscapes. The conclusion underscores the necessity for integrated, decentralized rural policies that acknowledge localized social capital and mitigate the persistent challenges of environmental degradation and labor market volatility to achieve genuine, equitable rural transformation.

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