Document Type : .
Authors
1
Department of Planning, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Tehran
2
Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Tehran
3
Department of Iranian Social Issues Study, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Iran.
10.30465/ismc.2026.54730.3054
Abstract
This paper explains the effects of political economy shocks, including international sanctions, on the Iranian middle class, and shows that these pressures lead to the erosion of cultural capital, the weakening of social roles, and changes in media consumption of this class. The argument begins with formulating the research problem in terms of the link between economic crises, and the transformation of the middle class’s position.
Theoretically, the paper draws on the perspectives of Marx, Weber, Bourdieu, and Halbwachs on class, cultural capital, social status, and collective memory, but relies on the interpretive framework of Weber and Bourdieu.
We argue that when livelihood pressures intensify, a part of the middle class is forced to reduce cultural consumption, and prioritize immediate livelihoods. In such a situation, the media also find a dual function for this class: on the one hand, they become a tool for raising awareness, maintaining social ties, representing dissatisfaction, and transmitting lived experiences, and on the other hand, in times of crisis, they can become a space for anxiety, despair, polarization, and erosion of social trust. The results show that supporting the middle class is necessary for achieving sustainable economic, social, and political development in Iran.
Keywords
Subjects
