Iranian Journal of Sociology
Year:2005 | Volume:6 | Issue:3|Papers Count:7

This paper attempts to explain a question which is variability in degree of changes occurring within democratization Iran. On the basis of such a question, the research question was formed as "How changes occurring within the democratization of Iran can be explained?" In order to answer the question, and from a standpoint to solve it, a theoretical framework containing the following conceptual structure was formulated: modernization is developed under the condition of an extant civil society, and it would result in democratization. In the next step, a theoretical solution as to the question was deduced from the theoretical framework. Continuing the procedure, scientific hypotheses were assessed through experimentation. The data gathering method is empirical/historical (referral to the original documents). For empirical arbitration of the hypotheses, we have used regression analysis. The empirical findings show that democratization bears a coefficient ratio of 72 with modernization and of 52 with civil society's development. On the other hand, the coefficient ratio of democratization with linear figuration of modernization variables and civil society's development is equal to 71.  

This inquiry is intended to study the impacts of political and economic development on social inequalities. Income inequality, gender inequality and sectoral inequality are included in this study. This research is based on a longitudinal-comparative method, in which secondary data for 208 world countries, from 1970 to 2000, is used. Structural equation modeling (SEM) is employed for data analysis. Results show that political development has decreasing effect, via two paths, on social inequalities: 1) political development, primarily democracy, paves the way for economic development over time, 2) political development, by containing corruption can relatively lessen inequalities. Findings also show that countries position in the world system can have major impact on their economic development. In the long run economic development both directly and inequality provides social means to decrease social inequalities.  

This article initiates by presenting a critique of the extant approaches in the analysis of how the law is observed in the Iran. It then proceeds to examine the degree and the type of factors affecting law obedience. The basic problem with the previous analyses concerning law evasion in Iran is that it has too strongly linked the presence of law in the Iranian society on the one hand with the political absolutism, and on the other, with ecological factors. Thus, these analyses are somewhat indifferent to the question of surveillance and the development of surveillance institutions. In other words, there exists an apparent indifference as to surveillance and punishment in society and in everyday life. This article deals with the role these institutions play in enhancing obedience to law in society.  

From the viewpoint of the constructionists, masculinity is a socio-cultural construction, which is acquired actively through socialization process. Therefore, masculinity goes beyond biological, physiological, or psychological characteristics. This article examines boys' (young men's) responses to "masculine" values. In so doing, it studies young boys' conceptions as to masculinity values. Adopting a constructionist approach, a representative sample of high school boy students of Tehran, was used to study boys' tendencies to masculine values and to the gender stereotypes, and also to interrogate the relationship between socio-economic status and boys' gender identity, as such a relationship may reflect the masculine values. Acknowledging the presence of a variation of "men" among high school student boys of Tehran, this research ventures to demonstrate some differences in tendency toward stereotypic gender values among them. The findings show that boys, who scored high on the masculinity scale, also exhibited stronger tendency toward masculine values and gender stereotypes, as compared to others.  

Non-governmental organizations are considered new phenomena in social life of human societies. The accelerate ed pace of their development began in the second half of the twentieth century, following the problems arising from globalization and the crisis of the welfare state. Non-governmental organizations mainly seek to achieve the following: Mass and voluntary mobilization of people's forces The improvement of the conditions of the society To remedy the shortcomings Development and creation of new perspectives Reaching sustainable development This paper is an attempt to examine social factors affecting youth's participation in non-governmental organizations. In so doing, the paper ventures at presenting a theoretical statement of the research question it has adopted. It reviews different theories as expounded by the classical sociologists, as well as social solidarity theories, the New Social Movements, and the social capital theory. In this research, non-governmental organizations are though of as manifestations of the New Social Movements. Considering the meta-theoretical model of Coleman, post-material values and individuals' social capital are assumed to be affecting individuals' participation in these organizations. The survey method is utilized here to examine the hypotheses. The statistical society includes youths 14-30 years of age residing in Tehran's various city districts. Sample size is 375 persons. The data were gathered by the questionnaire and SPSS was used for data analysis. The findings show that the more prevalent post-material values among the youth, the more social capital and participation in non-governmental organizations. Those youths who enjoy higher socioeconomic positions and those who are better educated tend to be more inclined to participate in these organizations. Girls' participation is lower than that of boys. Higher socioeconomic position is accompanied by more post-material and social capital. University and high school students possess post-material values and social capital, and hence more active participation in non-governmental organizations.  

One aspect of women's overall participation occurs within the economic domain. The present study uses Collins theory, which is based on conflict theory at a micro level. It considers women's role in rural economic activities. The main aim of this paper is to study women's share in these activities. Barriers to women's activities have been shown to exist in rural areas of the Fars province. The research findings indicate that there is a reverse relationship between education and economic participation. They show that the higher the level of rural women's education, the lower their tendency to participate in economic activities. These activities are mainly agriculture, and animal husbandry. I addition, as women get older, their economic participation rises. With an increase in men's education and income, women's economic participation decreases. The final model of the research shows a significant relationship between women's economic participation and their attitude toward employment. The use of the mass media, men's attitudes toward women's economic roles and self-confidence accounted for 33.8% of changes in women's participation in economic activities.