Mass Protests in Iran from the Tobacco Revolution to the 1970s within the Framework of Social Movement Theory

Abstract

The aim of this research is to provide a comprehensive analysis of the historical background that united the Iranian people in the ideal of revolution in 1979. From the Tobacco Protest (1891-92) to the 1970s, social reactions against the government in Iran have demonstrated a chronic continuity. In analyzing the factors that perpetuate rebellions and uprisings in Iran, the study theoretically draws on social movement theory. The processes of rebellion are evaluated based on the decisions and practices of the Qajar and later Pahlavi rulers that triggered large-scale protests. In this context, the study focuses on assessing the societal factors that facilitated the emergence and progression of the opposition movement in Iran and analyzes the impact of these mass protests on Iran's political landscape before 1979.