The LRB Podcast On Politics: A New Age of Protest in Iran
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Jan 28, 2026 Amir Ahmadi Arian, novelist and professor who writes on Iranian politics, and Chowra Makaremi, anthropologist and filmmaker studying Iranian society, discuss recent mass protests. They trace how bazaar unrest, economic collapse and the 2022 Woman, Life, Freedom movement shifted demands toward regime challenge. They also examine repression tactics, rumors, internet blackouts and regional narratives shaping the struggle.
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Bazaar Protests Sparked By Economic Predation
- Iran's latest protests began as economic protests in Tehran's bazaar targeting inflation and policy choices.
- The unrest quickly acquired political dimensions because economic pain exposed state predation and benefited regime-linked sectors.
Economic Collapse Deepens Desperation
- Economic collapse since 2022 has driven desperation: prices rose far faster than wages.
- Calorie intake fell substantially, indicating real food-security declines across provinces.
2017 Shift Led To Radicalized, Unified Protests
- Since about 2017 protests accelerated and demands radicalized beyond reformist frameworks.
- The 2022 Women, Life, Freedom movement united diverse factions and turned red lines into collective rejection.
