Social Problems of Iran

Sense of Deprivation and the Crisis of Identity Recognition in the Protest Actions of Youth: A Qualitative Study in Rasht-Iran (2022 Protests)

Authors

Sara Rezaei 1
Reza Alizadeh 2
Mohammdreza Gholami 3

1 MSc in Social Science Research, Koushyar Non-Governmental and Non-Profit Institute, Rasht, Iran

2 Assistant Prof. of Research Institute of Guilan Studies, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran

3 Associate professor, Department of Social Sciences, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran

https://doi.org/10.61882/jspi.16.2.119
Abstract
Political and social protests have always been a response to existing societal grievances. One of the most significant factors influencing the intensity and scope of these protests is the demographic structure of a country, particularly the prominent presence of youth. The younger generation, as a major segment of the population, plays a decisive role in the formation and expansion of protest movements, driven by demands for freedom, justice, and social change. In the past decade, Iran has witnessed numerous protests. However, the 2022 protests stand out due to their distinctive characteristics, including their scale, the depth of demands, and the high level of youth participation. This paper, grounded in the theoretical frameworks of Ted Robert Gurr and Axel Honneth, seeks to understand the experience of youth participation in recent protests in the city of Rasht. Employing a qualitative methodology, the study utilizes Grounded Theory and semi-structured interviews as its primary techniques. The participants consisted of 19 individuals, selected through purposive sampling based on theoretical saturation. The validity of the interview data was confirmed through peer review by social science researchers after analysis. From the collected data, 65 concepts, 15 subcategories, and 5 main categories were extracted. These include economic hardships, socio-political dissatisfaction, social media networks, the pursuit of social change, and the erosion of government legitimacy among the youth. The core category of the research was identified as a sense of deprivation and non-recognition of identity. The derived concepts and categories indicate that participants engaged in protest activities to construct identity and meaning, seeking to overcome the frustrations and failures they encounter in daily life.



Extended Abstract

1. Introduction

In the past century, Iran has witnessed various protests. Studies indicate that the frequency of citizen-led protest actions has been on the rise. In uprisings and protests, social actors symbolically dismantle the previous social order and organization, while in unrest, decision-makers become the primary targets of protest, and the status quo is called into question. Over the past two decades, Iranian society has experienced multiple waves of protests, the most recent of which occurred in 2022 following the death of Mahsa Amini. These protests lasted approximately four months and were notable for their scale and international repercussions. Although numerous studies have analyzed the 2022 protests, most have focused on macro-level data and theoretical analyses, with limited attention to the lived experiences of the participating youth. This study employs a qualitative methodology and grounded theory techniques to address various research questions. Given the significant role of youth in the 2022 protests and their intersection with new cultural and media developments, the central question is: What factors contributed to the formation of protest actions among youth in Rasht, and what social meaning do these actions hold for them? Previous research has primarily concentrated on macro-structural explanations or theoretical analyses. This study aims to use grounded theory and the lived experiences of protesting youth to develop a localized model for understanding the why and how of protest actions in a specific city. The article draws on data collection and the extraction of concepts, subcategories, and core categories from two theoretical frameworks: Gurr's Relative Deprivation Theory and Honneth's Theory of Recognition. The former explains why youth feel deprived due to the gap between their expectations and reality, while the latter demonstrates why youth resist due to experiences of humiliation and neglect. Identity and deprivation are key concepts in the analysis of this study's data.



2. Methodology

This research adopts a qualitative methodology and grounded theory approach to identify the reasons, contexts, and causes of youth participation in the 2022 protests in Rasht. The central question is: How did the lived experiences of Rashti youth shape and give meaning to their protest actions during that period? Semi-structured interviews were used as an informal and participatory method for data collection, employing open-ended questions. Participants included youth who engaged in various forms of protest, both in physical spaces (streets) and digital platforms. Sampling continued until data saturation was achieved, resulting in a total of 19 interviews. The use of grounded theory and the Strauss and Corbin approach in this study is justified by the exploratory nature of the research, the need for an in-depth understanding of the lived experiences of Rashti youth, and the limitations of existing theories. Previous theories often emphasize specific dimensions of protest causes, whereas the Strauss and Corbin approach, with its focus on theorizing from data and uncovering relational structures among categories, provides a suitable framework for a multidimensional understanding of youth protest actions.



3. Findings

The data, after coding, yielded 65 concepts, 15 subcategories, 5 main categories, and 1 core category, organized into five sections:

1. Contextual Conditions (Economy): Economic challenges such as lack of amenities, declining purchasing power, housing insecurity, and insufficient income relative to inflation. Participants explicitly cited their inability to meet minimum living standards, including inadequate recreational facilities and high living costs. These findings align with Gurr's Relative Deprivation Theory, which posits that the discrepancy between expectations and reality can lead to frustration and aggression.

2. Causal Conditions (Political and Social Dissatisfaction): Feelings of discrimination, deprivation of basic rights, lack of freedom of expression and choice, and pessimism about the future. Participants highlighted structural discrimination, particularly between the children of officials and ordinary youth. These findings resonate with Honneth's Theory of Recognition, which emphasizes the need for identity and rights to be acknowledged at three levels: love, respect, and social esteem.

3. Intervening Conditions (Social Media and Foreign Media): The role of platforms like Instagram and Twitter in accelerating protests. Youth used these tools for information dissemination and coordination while distrusting domestic media. Social media served not only as a communication tool but also as a platform for collective mobilization.

4. Strategies (Demanding Change): Youth sought to alter existing laws and participate in policymaking, advocating for dialogue and active involvement in national decision-making. These strategies reflect Honneth's emphasis on social participation and public recognition.

5. Consequences (Legitimacy Erosion): A growing divide between youth and the government, diminished hope for the future, and the potential for further protests. Participants felt their connection to the state had weakened, foreshadowing possible political destabilization—consistent with Gurr's theory on the link between dissatisfaction and political instability.

The core category, "A Sense of Deprivation and Non-Recognition of Identity and Rights," underscores how a combination of economic, social, and political factors drove youth toward protest.



4. Conclusion

The findings reveal that despite diverse demands, youth in Rasht organized their collective actions through "horizontal solidarity" (without centralized leadership). A key theoretical implication is that the participation of Iranian youth, particularly in non-metropolitan cities like Rasht, demonstrates that protest is no longer merely a political act but a form of "protest living" embedded in daily life. This necessitates a reevaluation of classical social movement theories. Another theoretical insight is that the interplay of economic deprivation, identity exclusion, and digital platforms has created a new mode of activism. Youth employ symbols and technologies to construct resistant identities, offering a framework for analyzing protests in similar societies. For policymakers, the study highlights the need to recognize youth identity and reform domestic media. Instead of security-oriented responses, institutional mechanisms should be established to amplify youth voices. Their participation in local governance and cultural policymaking could help bridge the state-society divide. Additionally, youth distrust of official media suggests these outlets often distort social realities rather than reflect them. Rebuilding trust requires changes in news coverage practices and greater openness to criticism. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of youth protests in Iran and offers insights for addressing their root causes in comparable contexts.













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Keywords

Protest
Youth
Life
Rasht
identity
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  • Receive Date 08 June 2026
  • Publish Date 08 June 2026