From Modernization of Daniel Lerner (1950S) to Present Day Modernization of Tehran, Iran
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International Journal of Research and Review www.ijrrjournal.com E-ISSN: 2349-9788; P-ISSN: 2454-2237 Review Article From Modernization of Daniel Lerner (1950s) to Present Day Modernization of Tehran, Iran Tahereh Yadegari Anthropology Department, Hyderabad Central University, Hyderabad, India. Received: 05/10//2014 Revised: 30/10/2014 Accepted: 05/11/2014 ABSTRACT Modernization has currently become a global phenomenon that many countries cannot deny its influence from different angles on their societies. Among Middle East countries, Iran is known as one of the first countries to accept modernization to a considerable extent. The internal and external changes of Tehran, capital city of Iran, during last decades is something undeniable. It has been six decades since Daniel Lerner‟s article on the condition of the Persian elite in Tehran, “Toward a Communication Theory of Modernization; A Set of Considerations” influenced by the modernization of that era. Daniel Lerner was an American scholar who is known for his researches about modernization theory. In fact he provided a mere picture of the situation in 1950s, when the young and graduated people were not able to find an occupation relevant to their field of study or profession and therefore with the consequence of frustration and failure, most of them invested in film industry and mass media, high class careers of those days. According to Daniel Lerner, it was as a result of inadequate or uncertain tempo of Iranian modernization. This is a review article, inspired by Daniel Lerner‟s article, and aims to provide a comparative view and express how the current modernization is different from that of 1950s and finally to consider its vast consequences on various layers of the society- particularly Tehran. Data used in this analysis is based on every 10 year national census and also surveys conducted in Iran. Key words: Modernization, Growth, Urbanization, Metropolitan, Population, Mobility, immigration. INTRODUCTION economy, demography, technology, To understand the impact of education, media, and immigration to the modernization, we need to see the major capital city of Tehran inspired by the changes of Iranian society from different phenomenon of modernization. aspects as it stems from a multitude of The Portion of Modernization during reasons influenced by modernity such as Pahlavi Dynasty rapid urbanization, physical mobility, better The first Pahlavi flourished from access to education etc. In fact Iran has been 1925 and lasted till 1941. Many reforms, one of those with suitable ground to inspired by modernization, under both Reza welcome modernity and great mobility Shah and his son, Mohammad Reza Shah among Middle East countries so that we (1941-1979) took place, such as secularizing have to consider different issues of the education and legal systems, unveiling International Journal of Research & Review (www.gkpublication.in) 22 Vol.1; Issue: 3; November 2014 women, allowing co-educational stood as the first one in this category with universities, establishment of The University the total population of 12,183,391 and 2,640 of Tehran (1934), railway expansion, households. There is a remarkable increase eradication of malaria, creation of in the population from 18,954,704 with schoolbooks, creation of birth certificates urbanization ratio of 31.4% in 1956 to for all Iranians etc. Modernization reforms 75,149,669, with urbanization ratio of 71% under Mohammad Reza Shah attempted to in 2011 (SCI). In fact Tehran province is limit the influence of the Islamic clergies in divided into eight townships. They are; education and politics. For example, the Tehran, Damavand, Tajrish, Islamshar, shah established theological schools in state Karaj, varamin, shahre-Rey and universities in order to counteract the Savejboolagh. Recently, Karaj and influence of the Ulema's religious teachings. Savejboolagh separated from Tehran and In addition, the growing signs of Western have become as independent regions lifestyle, such as drinking and gambling, (Asgharpour, Zanjani, Taleghani, 2013). The revealing women's clothing, and provocative growth of population in Tehran since 1930- films, linked Westernization to Iranian 2011- from first Pahlavi dynasty till current culture and lifestyle. In 1979 tensions government of Islamic Republic of Iran- is resulted in Islamic Revolution, which shown in the following table. transformed Iran from a monarchy to an Table 1-1: Population of Tehran from 1930-2011 Islamic republic. Year Government Population The upper class of Iran, prior to 1930 First Pahlavi 250,000 1940 First Pahlavi 540,087 1978, was affected by the modernization 1956 Second Pahlavi 1,560,934 policies implemented by the regime. The 1966 Second Pahlavi 2,719,730 1976 Second Pahlavi 4,530,223 traditional and non-traditional elite of the 1986 Islamic Republic of Iran 6,057,207 upper class existed prior to social changes 1996 Islamic Republic of Iran 6,758,845 and modifications to Iran's social 2006 Islamic Republic of Iran 7,711,230 2011 Islamic Republic of Iran 12,183,391 institutions, however, the mobility did not confine only to the elites but also social Tehran had the literacy rate of 92.4 mobility developed upward for members of in 2011 (SCI). Although during 1990s lower classes, such as bankers, young couples were learning to have only industrialists, army generals and cabinet two children- through some national family ministers. planning programs conducted by the The Population Growth and Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Modernization Process today the population of those graduated and On the principle that “the bigger the potential candidates due to external factors city, the faster its growth” it was mainly has increased to a great extent. Tehran that experienced the most increases In fact rapid growth of Tehran in population and concomitant expansion of population is due to many social and their urban boundaries. economic problems that governmental According to Statistical Centre of authorities, urban planners and Iran (SCI), city is defined as “each demographers could apply new and effective geographic locality that has a strategies for controlling of population municipality”. In the National Population increase before it reaches to a critical stage and Housing Census in 2011- the last (Asgharpour, Zanjani, Taleghani, 2013). conducted census- eight cities had Environmental consultant of Tehran population of over one million that Tehran International Journal of Research & Review (www.gkpublication.in) 23 Vol.1; Issue: 3; November 2014 Municipality has stated that Tehran’s most gap with developed countries. Currently, important predicament is overpopulation. there are 1,795 higher education institutes in Tehran has an ecological capacity for three Iran. There are 1,200 public universities, million residents but now about ten million which are financed, controlled and people are living in the metropolis. Tehran's supported by the government. However, population is several times higher than its there are also 595 private often called “free urban ecological capacity, resulting in universities” and non-profit institutions ailments amongst the residents arising from active in providing training at undergraduate the pollution. According to The head of and graduate levels (Karimi, Chizari, Harm Tehran Municipality's Environment and J.A. Biemans, Mulder, 2010). Perhaps one Sustainable Development Office, Tehran has of the greatest signals of modernist a capacity for 700,000 cars but currently transformation in Iran and mostly in Tehran more than 3 million cars are on the roads in is the reflection of this educated and the capital. Population concentration should urbanized youth. be reduced in Tehran and people should be Nowadays employment stands as encouraged to move to other centers with another effective factor for the tendency of enough capacity and infrastructure. the young to gain higher degrees. According to the Head of Tehran Governmental organizations and offices Municipality‟s Environment and Sustainable offer considerably but less job opportunities Development Office it is not valid to say that with an almost adequate salary to those with "tomorrow a group of people should go out higher degrees (Master’s & PhDs), which of Tehran", noting… the process needs a accordingly brings about competitive ten-year period. atmosphere and relationship among the Education & Employment Factors and candidates and employees. In one hand the the Impact of Modernity huge number of qualified candidates looking It is said that education is very for a job and on the other hand less job influential and an important factor in the opportunities resulted in more way of society beings and development. unemployment of numerous qualified Influenced by modernity and more number candidates. of universities in the capital city of Tehran, Inspired by the modernity, families most of the graduated people go for higher help and send their children to universities studies of post graduation and PhD so that to gain higher educational degrees, holding a consequently leads to increased numbers of type of high or better class among the masters degree holders. In 2011 the number population but after completion of studies of people with theological and higher and due to failure in finding a proper job, education in different fields of study was not only the children but also their parents 10,498,675 that actually in compare with become depressed. Due to frustration among total population of Tehran is a remarkable