Democracy and generation gap in Iran 1953-2003

The aim of this paper is to explain the relationship between generation gap and democracy in Iran in the last fifty years. To do so, the writers have used the results of the national polls conducted in 1974, 1995 and 2002 in their attempt to clarify the activeness or inactiveness of the generation gap by analyzing the differences between the attitudes, values and behaviors of the young and adult generations. The results indicate that, in spite of differences, the generation gap has not been very active in the political and social areas, but because the gap between totalitarianism and democracy has been active, the generation gap has increased, resulting in the strengthening of democracy. The writers also discuss the role of the young generation in the political-social changes aimed at the establishment of democracy in the country.