REVOLUTIONS, SAMURAI, AND REDUCTIONS - THE PARADOXES OF CHANGE AND CONTINUITY IN IRAN AND JAPAN

This paper assesses policies for managing cultural diversity in Iran a nd Japan, with particular focus on the treatment of women as a cultura l minority. Following social reducton theory, the distinction between rates of cultural change at macro- and microlevels is highlighted. It is argued that macro political and economic changes have taken place f airly rapidly, but micro changes in everyday social practices have cha nged much more slowly. The latter, it is argued, are structured by soc ial reducton systems, which can act to slow down societal change. This insight is used to cast light on the situation of women and other min orities in North America.