Digital Media and Structural Power Transformations in Iran: From Centralization to Decentralization
This study examines the role of digital media in the structural transformation of power in Iran and its transition from centralization to decentralization. The primary research question explores how digital media have functioned as tools for reducing power concentration and enhancing social participation. The study employs a qualitative approach using thematic analysis. The research sample comprises scholarly articles in both Persian and English relevant to the topic, with eight studies selected through purposive sampling. The findings indicate that social media platforms, including Telegram, Instagram, and Twitter, have played a significant role in altering power dynamics, organizing protests, redefining social identities, and strengthening oversight of governmental institutions. Furthermore, the study reveals that digital media have created new public spaces where citizens engage in social and political activities without mediation from formal institutions. However, challenges such as the spread of misinformation, government-imposed filtering, and regulatory restrictions have also been identified, which may impact the dynamism of these digital spaces. The study underscores the importance of effective policymaking in managing the digital sphere and demonstrates that digital media, beyond being mere communication tools, have become a pivotal factor in the structural transformation of power in Iran.