A Study of Cultural Identity and National Identity Image of Iranian and Afghans; Regarding to Afghan Immigrants Attitude Toward Iranians

Yahyaie, Sobhan; Kia, Seyed  Marziyeh

A Study of Cultural Identity and National Identity Image of Iranian and Afghans; Regarding to Afghan Immigrants Attitude Toward Iranians

Volume 10, Issue 37
Spring 2009

Pages 135-156

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Sobhan Yahyaie ¹

Seyed Marziyeh Kia ²

¹ M.A. Student, Department of Communication, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Tehran, Tehran-IRAN

² M.A. Student, Department of Regional Studies Faculty of Law and Political Sciences, University of Tehran, Tehran-IRAN

Abstract

In this paper we are trying to determine common cultural identity among Iranians and Afghans. For this purpose we use qualitative methods and independent interviews to study mental images of Afghan immigrants in Iran. The theoretical framework of this paper is based on intercultural model of Tony Bennet. We conduct 14 independent interview based upon this model. The result of this study is not generizable; it illuminates some enlightening aspect of cultural exchange among Iranians and Afghans. In this paper we mentioned the cultural commonalities of Iranians and Afghans and refer to some cultural roots of them. This paper remarked that we must remove exclusive ideologies from culture and welcome cultural and ethnic pluralism.

Keywords

Afghan Immigrants

Cultural

National Identity

Iran

Shared Culture