Analysis of Generational Changes and Social Justice in Development Programs of Post-Islamic Revolution in Iran

The Iranian society in transition, which has been confronted with far-reaching social, cultural, economic and political changes in recent decades, has been subject to considerable divergence in terms of the values and behavior of the new generations. Such changes require the special attention of policy makers and state planners. The present study aims to clarify the extent to which key policy makers are paying attention to generational change in development programs. The theoretical framework of this paper draws on Bourdieu s theory of intergenerational conflict and focuses on the unequal distribution of power and wealth between generations. Using an institutional approach, this study examines the regularities of development programs and assesses the extent to which development programs focus on the transmission of values to reduce intergenerational differences. It also examines the extent to which development programs pay attention to a balanced distribution of resources and facilities in order to prevent a deepening of the generation gap. The research findings show that development programs have formulated and adopted different strategies in relation to both aspects, the communication of values and the pursuit of equitable distribution of resources and the creation of social justice.