The role of the Iranian working class in supporting imposed war in the narrative of the informants

In response to the imposed war, various segments of Iranian society, unified by a shared Islamic identity, were mobilized. This article explores the narratives of informants regarding the working class's role during the historical period from 1359 AH to 1367 AH. Employing a qualitative research approach and narrative analysis strategy, data were collected through open interviews based on theoretical saturation principles. The sample comprised 8 labor managers and activists from Islamic labor councils and workers' houses active during the war, supplemented by mediated interviews with 10 contemporary labor activists. Participants were chosen through purposive sampling, and thematic analysis was applied for data interpretation. The research's validity and accuracy were enhanced by interviewee verification of the interview texts and the exploration of negative cases or alternative explanations among other actors. Narratives revealed two central themes: "supporting the war" and "participating in the war." Additionally, seven fundamental themes were identified: workers' deployment to battlefields, dispatch of skilled workers to the frontlines, workers' role in stabilizing the revolution by managing security crises behind the front, involvement in military training, provision of technical support services to the front, financial and material contributions to the war effort, and logistical support from the workers. The revolution's intellectual orientation and leadership's focus on the oppressed and lower social strata were primary motivators for workers' support of the war during the first decade post-Islamic revolution.