The Iranian student movement has played a central role in the social, political, and cultural transformations of the country from the late 1970s to 2022. After the suppression of leftist, nationalist, and religious forces in the early years of the revolution, the student movement emerged as a critical and independent force. Universities became a platform for expressing demands for freedom and justice and were always at the forefront of social protests. In this article, the evolution of the student movement from 1991 to 2022 is examined and the various discourses and approaches of students towards reformists and opposition are analyzed.

Protests of July 9, 1999: The beginning of the journey.

The protests of July 9, 1999, in response to the arrest of the newspaper “Salam” and the attack of security forces on the dormitory of Tehran University students, took place. This incident became one of the first turning points in the student movement after the revolution and led to the formation of a new protest movement. At that time, the relationship between the student movement and the reformists was close; the reformists saw universities as a tool to pressure the government and sought to interact with the government with the slogan “pressure from below, knocking on the door from above”.

However, the failure of the government of “Mohammad Khatami” in supporting students and its inability to confront security forces caused divisions between the student movement and reformists. One of the main slogans of this period was “Students die, but do not accept humiliation”, which became a symbol of student resistance against security crackdowns.

Student Movement and Reformists: From Hope to Despair.

In the 1380s, many students were hopeful for electoral reforms and interaction with reformists. The main slogans of this period, such as “freedom, justice, and democracy,” reflected this hope. However, with the victory of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in 1384 and the intensification of suppression, hopes for reforms collapsed. The hard core of the government, through widespread disqualification and political suppression, prioritized efforts to consolidate power. As a result, many students came to the conclusion that the previous strategies of the reformists were ineffective.

The protests after the 2009 elections and the formation of the “Green Movement” once again provided an opportunity for convergence between students and reformists. Slogans such as “Where is my vote?” and “Death to the dictator” were signs of students and people’s efforts to influence the country’s political process. A short-lived unity was formed between students and reformists. However, after the severe suppression of the Green Movement, many students distanced themselves from the reformists and sought deeper and more fundamental changes in the country’s political structure. Their demands were closer to the demands of the leaders of the movement under house arrest.

Revival of Student Associations during the Era of Hassan Rouhani.

1392-1400.

With the arrival of Hassan Rouhani in 1392 (2013), and his promises to open up the political space, student associations that had been weakened during Ahmadinejad’s presidency became active again. Islamic associations and student organizations once again focused on organizing cultural, social, and political activities. Slogans such as “The university is alive” were prominent during this period.

However, despite the reactivation of forums, security restrictions and suppressions continued and students were not able to fully expand their activities. During this period, new discourses emerged that criticized privatization and administrative corruption and leaned towards demands for social justice. Slogans such as “social justice” and “fight against corruption” were the main slogans of this period.

Simultaneously with this transformation, a bond was formed between students and workers. For the first time after the suppression of the 1960s, universities and workers found a new solidarity and shared slogans such as “Worker, Student, Unity Unity” were a sign of this unity. During this time, the liberal-democratic discourse that had previously dominated university spaces gave way to a discourse of justice and the left.

Protests of 1396 and 1398: Radicalization of the student movement.

The protests of Dey month 1396 and Aban month 1398, which occurred due to economic problems, structural corruption, and sudden increase in gasoline prices, were a turning point in the trend of radicalization of the student movement. In these protests, students along with other segments of society took to the streets and combined economic slogans with political demands. Slogans such as “reformist, principled, enough is enough” indicated the end of students’ trust in the existing political factions.

In this course, students moved away from the idea of gradual reforms and demanded structural and fundamental changes. The widespread suppression of these protests played a significant role in radicalizing the student movement and deepening the divide between them and the government.

Protests of 1401: The chain of connection of protests.

The nationwide protests of 1401, which began with the death of “Mahsa Amini” and the slogan “Women, Life, Freedom”, reached their peak with the activities of students in the social scene. During this period, students played a central role as the connecting link in the protests. Universities, especially Tehran, Alzahra, and Allameh Tabatabai universities, became the main centers of protests and students pursued their demands for democracy and justice through gatherings and strikes.

Slogans such as “Women, Life, Freedom” and “A Student Dies, Dignity Does Not Accept” were symbols of resistance and the demand of students for their human and social rights. Unlike some sections of the opposition who were only seeking a change of power, students emphasized the realization and strengthening of democracy and social justice.

The Relationship between the Student Movement and the Opposition: From Conflict to Independence.

The student movement has always had a complex relationship with both domestic and foreign opposition. While some students have become close to the opposition at times, the main body of the movement has always sought to maintain its independence from political currents. The student movement has never been part of a following or supporting political movement and has always strived to remain in a critical and independent position.

The student movement as a force for change.

The Iranian student movement in recent decades has crossed the dual boundaries of reform or revolution and has become an independent and transformative force. The main goal of this movement is to transition to democracy and achieve fundamental changes in the political, economic, and cultural spheres through nonviolent civil resistance. After the protests of 1396, 1398, and 1401, students are seeking structural changes and refuse to back down from supporting fundamental changes in Iranian society. As a result, the student movement today is considered one of the main independent forces in the political arena of the country and continues to act as a symbol of transformation and civil resistance.