Burnt Generation

In Iran, the Burnt Generation (Persian: Nasl-e Sukhteh) is the generation born between 1966 and 1990, having experienced the Iranian Revolution, Iran–Iraq War, and political or social consequences of these such as the Iran hostage crisis, the 1980 Iranian Embassy Siege, the Iranian Cultural Revolution, 1988 executions of political prisoners, the 1989 fatwa against Salman Rushdie, and the Islamic revival, as children, teenagers and young adults. These events proved fundamental in deciding the very poor prospects and pessimistic outlook of this generation as they entered the workforce in Iran at the end of the 1980s, and throughout the 1990s. This generation resonates with Generation X and Millennials in the Western world. The earlier members of this cohort (roughly 1966 to 1979) were born at a time when the middle class had the majority, the country was prosperous and much more optimistic, higher education was extremely valued and hard work would promise a bright future, however were too young to take advantage of the benefits of this time when the Iranian Revolution in 1978-1979 destroyed these prospects. On the other hand, the second half of the cohort (born from 1979 to 1990) were born at a time of great social, political, economic and religious turbulence in Iran, and in their early childhood were only accustomed to the turmoil of the period.

As children, the older cohort of the Burnt Generation shaped their future dreams based on their parents' values and lifestyle. These values described success, convenience and social acceptance as simply achievable goals through hard work and right education. Their parents, a Baby Boomer–like generation, had rebuilt the country after World War II, established public education, a secular society, as well as an industrialised one, significantly advanced women’s rights, nationalized the oil industry, and enhanced the public health system. As such their parents in adulthood lived through and enjoyed the benefits the White Revolution brought to Iran in the 1960s and 1970s, including a high standard of living and stable, well-paying employment. Therefore, the older cohort were able to enjoy to some extent a prosperous early childhood, but after the Revolution suddenly found their entire lives in turmoil at a young age. Although by the late 1970s, in the aftermath of the 1973 oil crisis, there was a steadily-growing dissatisfaction with the government and the Shah’s approach to a variety of political and social issues, as well the system of absolute monarchy in Iran, the assumption that the parents of the Burnt Generation made at the time was that those issues would be resolved through a democratic system.

During the Revolution, and after the Shah was overthrown, the chaos that erupted in Iran, resulting in the consolidation of the Revolution, violence between various political groups and the new government, and the outbreak of the Iran-Iraq War, as well as the rapid change in values in Iran, created a hopeless environment that deeply affected the beliefs and values of the Burnt Generation. During the 1980s, as children and teenagers, they were politicised much earlier than previous Iranian generations, being required by the new Islamic Republic to take part in anti-America and anti-Israel demonstrations, being fed political and religious rhetoric in mosques, as well as being forced to accept the political complexities and realities of the Iran-Iraq War at a young age. As such, during this period, they were notably a religious generation, seeking comfort in religion, and were made to not question authority, resulting in them sharing much of the Islamic Republic’s ideological beliefs in the 1980s and in the first half of the 1990s. Due to the turmoil of the late 1970s and 1980s in Iran, the Burnt Generation experienced significant trauma and loss when they were young - it was common to witness much of their family to be killed or displaced during the Iran-Iraq War. As such, they have notably poor mental health. They are marked by lack of optimism for the future, nihilism, cynicism, skepticism, political apathy, alienation and distrust in traditional values and institutions, which describe the similarities between Gen X and the Burnt Generation.

Another important event that influenced this generation was the Cultural Revolution and the shutting down of colleges and universities for several years. After reopening, every applicant had to pass an interview with the government-approved committees and women were only allowed to apply for certain limited majors. At that time, many of Burnt Generation, ranged between 13 and 25 years old, were fighting in the Iran–Iraq War, which lasted from 1980 to 1988 with a million casualties on both sides.

As a result of growing up in that environment, they either have strong religious beliefs or are completely distrustful of religion and God. Some believe in God but disconnect themselves from any religious beliefs or groups. Their most common values include loyalty to family and friends, compassion, and high work ethics. The uncertainties of their future, either for those who lived in Iran or elsewhere, leave a deep sense of insecurity in the Burnt Generation.