Revised model of social change and acceleration: the case of Iranian society in the 1960s and 1970s

Abstract

This article aims to address the processes of social changes in terms of the theory of social acceleration. It begins with an outline of the theory of social acceleration and discusses how an investigation into the driving forces of social acceleration can be used to explain the dynamics of social stability and change. It criticizes the acceleration theory because its focus is merely on high-industrialized western societies as well as the neglect of normative and religious aspects in the processes of social acceleration and change. This article proposes a revised model of social acceleration and applies it to Iranian society. It identifies the main features of acceleration-cycle formed in Iranian society in the 1960s and 1970s to answer the question of why the cycle of acceleration could not establish a self-propelling acceleratory formation as a prime requirement for preserving social stability.

Time and social change in non-western societies: The 1979 Iranian revolution as case study

“…This interpretation will apply to the social conditions of Iranian society in the years leading up to the 1979 revolution characterized by rapid social changes (Amuzegar, 1991; Goldeston, 2001; Kurzman, 2004; Foran 2005; Ritter, 2015; Beck, 2018). Along these lines, this section presents an explanation of the Iranian revolution of 1979 in terms of the levels of self-interpretation and the acceleration-cycle established in the years leading up to the revolution.…”

“…As mentioned above, the formation of the acceleratory (and declaratory) mechanisms that the theory of social acceleration works out is based on the considerations of the economic, social, and cultural relations that prevailed in high-industrial secular western societies. However, it makes the theory of social acceleration vulnerable to eurocentrism and naïve accounts of modernization processes (Poornik, 2022). Therefore, there is some theoretical and empirical reconsideration required if this claim of the theory of acceleration takes seriously that social acceleration defines the underlying mechanisms of modern society.…”

“…This project had to be realized by more engaging in the accelerating global economy, the import of technology, and skilled labor fueled by increasing oil incomes. In this context thereof, the frameworks of social development and general social orientations designed in the social and economic plans had to release to accelerate the processes of modernization and industrialization, reflected in the revisions in the fifth development plan (1973)(1974)(1975)(1976)(1977) of Iran and quadrupling of budgets (Poornik, 2022).…”

“…Similarly, the modernization of bureaucracy and educational system as well as rapid urbanization (from 31.4% to 46.9% of the Iranian population between 1956 and 1976) (Poornik, 2022), led to a social acceleration in terms of population movement from the generational pace of social change to an intergenerational tempo. However, discrepancies occurred between the tempos of social change planned and launched by the political system and the rhythms of the social and private life of diverse social strata and groups.…”

“…They tried come up with the sense of disorientation by the social networks that rural migrants developed in cities, mosques, and other regions places. Likewise, the Shiite ceremonies based on the religious calendar provided them sittings for the recourse to the traditional rhythms of life (Poornik, 2022;Aghajari and Veisi, 2014).…”