Emad Afroogh: Since structural reform is not happening, we should expect these protests to be repeated.
Emad Afroogh, a sociologist, in an interview with ISNA about the roots of the recent protests in the country, stated that both the realities of Iranian society and the history of similar events in the country, as well as some critical approaches in sociology, indicate to us that these events will repeat.
Protests in Iran also have political and cultural backgrounds, and we are not only witnessing economic exclusion. For years, an artificial and false polarization has been initiated by political groups in the diverse society of Iran.
Economically, in addition to injustice in the distribution of economic benefits, we have inequality, monopolization, and rent-seeking. Privileges have been given to certain individuals, and the majority have been excluded from these privileges.
Since structural reform is not happening, we should expect these protests to be repeated. Saying that we should debate and have dialogue is the first step, and we need to see whether this first step includes practical measures to counter exclusion and implement structural reforms or not.