8 - Oil, Workforce, and the Developmental State: 1960s–1970s

Summary

Delving into ‘Development Sociology,’ the 1960s are labelled as the ‘Development Decade’ in United Nations parlance, a period recognised for its widespread economic and political reforms globally, particularly in the Global South. During this transformative period, a critical linguistic shift occurred: societies once labelled ‘underdeveloped’ were now referred to as ‘developing countries,’ a designation symbolising their potential to surmount longstanding economic stagnation and poverty. The driving forces behind this development were the developmental states, which, through authoritarian and swift modernisation efforts, aimed to ascend to the ranks of developed nations. Iran exemplified such nations, where a surge in oil revenues, significantly bolstered by OPEC, laid the foundation for rapid, albeit uneven, economic growth. This growth catalysed profound transformations in the working and living conditions of workers, particularly evident in Iran’s oil industry. Reflecting on this period, the examination of the daily lives of these workers reveals how the uneven pace of development markedly influenced their existence, offering insights into the intricate interplay between national development strategies and their palpable effects on the labour force amid global economic shifts.