The mafia-style policies implemented across various facets of the Iranian government have created a stark division within society. It’s a divide between the impoverished and the affluent, effectively decimating the middle class. Class distinctions have plagued human societies since their inception.
Since the first human societies that bear a resemblance to today’s world, which has transformed into a global village due to extensive communication and technological advancement, class structures have consistently persisted.
While economic laws are no longer confined within national borders and international laws govern economies and politics worldwide, each country retains its unique governance structure. This leads to the formation of distinct social classes within societies, where various parameters come into play.
Even though Karl Marx in the 19th century described societal classes and the resulting contradictions, advocating for the negation of class distinctions, his ideology, known as Marxism, hasn’t fully eradicated class divisions in practice. Non-Marxist ideologies have encountered similar challenges.
However, according to the laws of social evolution and dialectics, in societies globally, the middle class bridges the gap between the working class or lower class and the capitalist or upper class.
The presence of a middle class indicates a connection between the lower and upper classes, fostering mutual action and interaction. In essence, the middle class mediates between these two extremes, with both having the potential to ascend or descend based on economic activities and effort.
This relative definition applies to societies where governance aligns with contemporary standards of legitimacy and the rule of law, facilitating the participation of citizens.
However, in societies or countries where governance lacks legitimacy and is monopolistic, the government seizes all economic, political, and social privileges for its gain. This leads to the emergence of a gang-like system, inevitably dividing society into a bipolar structure, eliminating room for the middle class.
In this scenario, the middle class either ascends to the upper or ruling class or descends toward the lower class. Monopolistic regimes prioritize consolidating their power, not expansion. Any form of expansion would be antithetical to their objectives.
From this perspective, the mullahs’ regime, with its monopolistic approach and the destruction of the middle class, fosters a bipolar society consisting of the regime’s loyalists and the rest of the population.
For years, experts and civil society have recognized the vanishing middle class in Iran. It is steadily shifting toward the lower class, making it untenable to claim its existence. Initially, this may appear advantageous for religious authorities. However, the law of class conflict operates dialectically in society. This conflict will ultimately lead to the elimination of one of the classes or create antagonistic conflicts between them.
It is evident that the Iranian people and the lower class are not the ones who will suffer in this equation; instead, it is the sovereignty of religious authority that faces destruction.
The implications of this societal division are profound. The absence of a robust middle class means that there is a significant lack of social mobility and a diminishing space for dialogue and compromise. In a bipolar society, the chances for constructive engagement between different social strata diminish significantly. The result is often political instability, economic stagnation, and social unrest.
Furthermore, this division perpetuates economic inequality and social injustice. The lower class, with limited opportunities for upward mobility, faces increased hardships. At the same time, the upper class, closely aligned with the ruling elite, enjoys disproportionate privileges and wealth accumulation. This stark economic disparity fuels resentment and discontent among the masses.
In the long run, a society with a vanishing middle class becomes less resilient and adaptable. The middle class traditionally plays a crucial role in economic growth, innovation, and social cohesion. Its decline can hinder economic development and societal progress.
In conclusion, the mafia-style policies and monopolistic governance in Iran have led to the gradual disappearance of the middle class, resulting in a bipolar society with significant consequences. While the ruling religious authority may initially benefit from this division, it ultimately threatens stability, economic prosperity, and social harmony.
