Dr. Golkar’s article “Manipulated Society” delves into the study of state manipulation of the population in the Islamic Republic of Iran. This manipulation is used to protect the regime from the “threat from below” where the general public mobilizes and rises up against the state. He points to the Arab Spring as an example of the threat that this poses to non-democratic regimes. This manipulation involves three main components: Manipulation of the mind, manipulation of the body, and manipulation of emotion. Manipulation of the mind and manipulation of the body are much more well-known, while manipulation of emotion is something that is somewhat specific to the IRI. Manipulation of the mind involves indoctrination of the populace and propaganda
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Golkar left off, and elaborates on this idea of the rebellious youth, and focuses mainly on the sexual revolution taking place in Iran. Unlike the older generations, these younger people seek to fight the social control by engaging in rebellious social behavior that goes against societal norms. These “Children of the Revolution” were the first generation that has been born into the current Iranian political atmosphere. However, the good thing about this is that they have benefitted from the free education and national literacy campaigns to produce a well-educated generation that is highly politically motivated. Through his interviews, the author discovers the feelings and motivations behind this youth movement. This group of non-secular, mostly middle and upper class millennials strive to attack the fabric of the morality that the from which the Iranian regime gains legitimacy. They see this sexual revolution as an effective, nonviolent way to fight back against the morality police of the IRI. While wearing “western” clothing or driving with a boyfriend may seem like a marginal, unimportant action, it is actually a brave challenge of authority that pulls at the threads of the Iranian power structure and that will hopefully lead to the downfall of the
Golkar left off, and elaborates on this idea of the rebellious youth, and focuses mainly on the sexual revolution taking place in Iran. Unlike the older generations, these younger people seek to fight the social control by engaging in rebellious social behavior that goes against societal norms. These “Children of the Revolution” were the first generation that has been born into the current Iranian political atmosphere. However, the good thing about this is that they have benefitted from the free education and national literacy campaigns to produce a well-educated generation that is highly politically motivated. Through his interviews, the author discovers the feelings and motivations behind this youth movement. This group of non-secular, mostly middle and upper class millennials strive to attack the fabric of the morality that the from which the Iranian regime gains legitimacy. They see this sexual revolution as an effective, nonviolent way to fight back against the morality police of the IRI. While wearing “western” clothing or driving with a boyfriend may seem like a marginal, unimportant action, it is actually a brave challenge of authority that pulls at the threads of the Iranian power structure and that will hopefully lead to the downfall of the