The periodic social movements experienced by the Islamic Republic of Iran since its establishment have become a structural feature of the country's political system. The recurring nature of these movements and the system's responses to them can be conceptualized in the academic literature as an ongoing legitimacy crisis. However, the protests that emerged at the beginning of 2026 display distinctive characteristics compared to previous periods in terms of both internal dynamics and external factors.
The dissatisfaction of broad segments of Iranian society with the political system emerges as a structural problem that undermines the regime's foundations of legitimacy. The theocratic system established after the 1979 Revolution has faced periodic legitimacy crises due to the growing incompatibility between ideological discourse and social demands.
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