Social Transformations in Iran in 2022; Diffusion Theory

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 PhD Student in Teaching Islamic Revolution Studies, Allameh Tabataba'i University

2 Professor and Member of the Academic Staff, Faculty of Law and Political Science, Allameh Tabataba’i University

Abstract
The social transformations in Iran in the fall of 2022 marked a pivotal moment in the country's contemporary history, characterized by protest, identity-driven, and value-based movements that challenged traditional social structures and mobilization patterns. This article aims to systematically analyze these events using Hägerstrand's Diffusion Theory as a framework to examine the dissemination process of social innovations—including slogans, symbols, and protest behaviors such as "Woman, Life, Freedom"—within Iran's political and cultural context. Employing a descriptive-analytical methodology based on credible domestic and international documents and reports, the findings reveal that the 2022 transformations spread through a combined pattern of hierarchical diffusion (involving celebrities and elites), contagious diffusion (via family and friendship networks), and relocation diffusion (through activists abroad), leveraging social media platforms (Instagram, Telegram, Twitter) at a rapid pace. Factors such as distance, time, and absorption barriers (e.g., internet filtering, and ethnic-religious divides) acted as mitigating influences. By integrating the classical framework of Diffusion Theory with documented data from 2022, this article provides an analytical model for understanding the dynamics of social change in Iran's digital age.

Keywords



Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 25 October 2026