Abstract Book of the 8th International Conference on Research in Social Sciences and Humanities
Year: 2025
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Class Distinctions Among Iranian Immigrants in Turkey: A Sociocultural Analysis
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aslican Kalfa-Topates, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hakan Topates
ABSTRACT:
This research explores the characteristics of the Iranian refugee and asylum seeker community in Denizli, shaped by migration processes. Mass migration to Western countries, prompted by the establishment of the Sharia regime in 1979, continues, as many Iranians use Turkey as a transit country for asylum. In today’s globalized world, Iranian refugees may be part of a new migration wave linked to the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict. In the context of the research, In-depth interviews were conducted with 40 Iranian immigrants using a semi-structured questionnaire to explore migration practices through a longitudinal sociological lens. Turkey’s migration policy prioritizes settling refugees in smaller “satellite cities” rather than metropolitan areas. In Denizli, this has led to the emergence of distinct groups, including LGBTI individuals, women victims of domestic violence, political prisoners, Christians, and Baha’is, along with ethnic identities like Persian, Kurdish, Lur, and Azeri. Iranian immigrants have introduced class structures from Iran, resulting in both social solidarity and conflict, as well as the creation of unique subcultures. The Iranian population in the city can be categorized into four groups: The first is the “immigrant aristocracy,” relying on financial support from Iran. The second is the middle class, which faces proletarianization while relying on family support and part-time jobs. The third group includes devalued former middle-class individuals, while the final group consists of underclass immigrants, or the “residual class,” as Marx termed it, struggling to find employment, in some cases leading to criminal activities or sex work.
Keywords: asylum seekers, migration, refugees, social stratification, subculture