Role of Traditional Middle Class in Iran’s Political Developments (Case Study: Islamic Revolution’s Formation Period)

The study of the role of social forces in political developments has been generally accepted as an essential part of political sociology. Social classes are categorized as distinct social forces playing a role in analysis of the performance of social forces. Among different social classes, the role of traditional middle class has always been outstanding in social and political developments in Iran. This paper intends to study the role of traditional middle class in Iran’s political developments during Islamic Revolution’s period of establishment. As far as methodology is concerned, this study is a descriptive-analytical work that has used library and documentary method. The theoretical framework for analysis of the traditional middle class is Pierre Bourdieu’s theory of capital and class distinction, who has tried to argue the relation between various capitals and social classes. Findings of this paper indicate that the traditional middle class in Iran during the establishment of Islamic Revolution could defeat other classes through appropriate use of various economic, social, political, cultural and symbolic capitals to enjoy a hegemonic role in the country’s political power structure.