سارا محمدپور خباز

Political and social protests in recent decades have been among the most important issues of concern for policymakers in Iran. Analyzing the origins of these events is essential for reducing social unrest and developing effective strategies. This study aims to investigate the roots of political and social protests in Iran during the 1370s and 1390s SH (1991–2011), and seeks to answer the question: which social factors have played a decisive role in the emergence of these protests from a comparative and sociological perspective? Based on the main hypothesis of the study, the gap between citizens’ legitimate expectations and the existing realities, disregard for evolving social and political values, economic demands, and the pursuit of social justice and equality have been key drivers of protest movements. Employing a mixed-methods (quantitative–qualitative) and comparative approach, and drawing on theories of relative deprivation—particularly the ideas of Ted Robert Gurr—and theories of social alienation, the research analyzes three significant instances of unrest. The findings indicate that the convergence of unmet expectations, socio-economic grievances, and value-based demands created the primary foundation for civil uprisings over the past two decades.