The role of relative deprivation in shaping social movements in Iran over the last decade

This study investigated the role of relative deprivation in shaping social movements in Iran over the past decade, emphasizing how perceived inequalities and injustices influenced collective behavior and mass mobilization. By employing a qualitative method, including in-depth interviews and thematic analysis of media content, the research examined the effect and role of critical thinking and herd behavior in the participation of Iranian social movements. The previous research findings indicated that perceptions of injustice and deprivation, significantly amplified by social media, may strongly motivate collective actions. Furthermore, this research identified an evolutionary process within these movements, demonstrating a transition from initial herd-like behaviors toward informed activism driven by critical thinking and collective consciousness. Additionally, this study revealed the emergence of a "gray stratum," a previously under-examined social class whose mobilization was profoundly influenced by leadership figures and collective consciousness shaped through media content and elite interpretations. These elites functioned as translators and interpreters, as mediators of complex socio-political messages, effectively bridging grassroots activists and reference groups, thus significantly influencing public awareness and altering the trajectory of social movements. This research empirically contributes to existing sociological literature by emphasizing the psychological and social mechanisms underpinning Iranian social movements. It first provides valuable insights into the transformation from herd behavior to critical thinking, and then highlights the pivotal role of elite-mediated communication in mobilizing latent social classes. Understanding these dynamics underscores the importance of addressing relative deprivation, fostering critical thinking, and strategically engaging the gray stratum to achieve meaningful and sustained social change.