Environmental Injustice and Social Movements in Iran: An Intersectional Perspective

• In Event: 20861 - Section on Collective Behavior and Social Movements Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Table 8: Intersectional Activism

Abstract

This article examines the multidimensional aspects of environmental injustice in Iran through an intersectional lens, highlighting how ecological degradation disproportionately affects marginalized groups based on ethnicity, gender, and class. These disparities reveal systemic environmental sexism, racism, and class oppression, which undermine social justice and exacerbate existing inequalities. By analyzing the political economy of environmental governance and the complexities of grassroots resistance movements, the paper demonstrates the interplay between ecological destruction and socio-political power dynamics. Drawing on several qualitative research projects conducted over nearly two decades—ranging from in-depth interviews and focus groups across diverse regions of Iran affected by natural disasters to recent investigations into environmental issues and movements—the study aims to elucidate the intertwined nature of social inequality and environmental crises. This paper also explores the forms of local resistance that emerge in response to environmental injustices, offering a critical perspective on the role of governance in perpetuating or challenging these disparities.

Author

• Elham Hoominfar, Northwestern University