Pathological Social Cleavages: Strategies for Boosting Friendship and National Solidarity in Iran

The present article, drawing upon the findings of a field research, tries to study pathological social cleavages in the Iranian society (racial, gender, ethnic and religious cleavages) and mechanisms for strengthening social solidarity and national convergence and friendship among the Iranian society. The results of the survey show that the above-mentioned social rifts are not acute in the Iranian society. However, in regard to the different components of social solidarity and national convergence, the attitude of the youth, women, Iranian ethnic groups and Sunni countrymen towards subjects such as “social justice”, “public trust” and “efficiency of the institutions and authorities of the system” was not proven to be positive. Therefore, adopting policies aiming at the “reduction of poverty and discrimination”, “increase of political and social participation” and “increase of cultural interactions” in the society, especially in ethnic areas and Sunni populated regions of the country are necessary for strengthening social solidarity, boosting national unity and increasing friendship in the society. The time focus of this research is the decade 1380s.