Asian Culture and Art Studies (Motaleat-e Farhang va Honare Asiya)

Abstract This article examines the transformation of cultural taste and identity politics among Afghan immigrants in Iran, focusing on changes in dress. As a result of migration and prolonged exposure to Iranian culture, Afghan immigrants experience significant shifts in clothing styles, reflecting broader processes of cultural adaptation and identity negotiation. These changes are influenced by various factors, including social and cultural pressures, generational differences, age, education, employment, and media exposure. Younger generations (second and third) are more influenced by Iranian fashion trends and tend to adopt modern clothing, while older generations (first) generally strive to preserve traditional Afghan attire. However, many immigrants blend traditional and contemporary clothing as a strategy to maintain cultural identity while adapting to the host society. The study employs an ethnographic approach, using participant observation and in-depth interviews with 16 Afghan immigrants residing in Shahrak-e Qaem, Qom. Findings reveal that clothing is not only a personal or aesthetic choice but also a symbolic representation of identity, power, and belonging. Changes in dress reflect complex interactions between native and host cultures and illustrate how immigrants navigate between cultural preservation and social integration. The research highlights the role of generational differences, media influence, and socio-cultural contexts in shaping the evolving dress preferences of Afghan immigrants in Iran.

Abstract The subject of migration, as a global phenomenon, not only has economic and social dimensions but also encompasses profound cultural and identity-related aspects. Afghan migrants in Iran, with shared experiences of war, migration, and life in the host country, have formed a collective identity influenced by migration policies, social discrimination, and cultural resistance strategies. This research examines the role of collective memory in shaping the identity of migrants, the impact of government policies, and their cultural resistance strategies. The research methodology is qualitative with an ethnographic approach, utilizing techniques such as participant observation and in-depth interviews with 22 migrants (16 men and 6 women) in the Ghaem neighborhood of Qom. The findings indicate that the collective memory of migrants, as a dynamic process, is shaped by factors such as shared experiences, Iran's migration policies, and socio-economic discrimination. Restrictions on residence, employment, and education directly affect their collective memory and identity. Moreover, migrants employ strategies such as preserving language, celebrating traditional festivals, preparing traditional foods, and transmitting personal narratives to resist cultural assimilation and safeguard their identity. The results suggest that reforming migration policies can help create an environment where migrants are able to maintain their identity and achieve better integration. This approach not only improves their social and cultural conditions but also strengthens intercultural interactions.

Abstract Iran has hosted the largest population of refugees, mostly from Afghanistan and Iraq, for the last few years. Now, after Pakistan, is the second host country of Afghan refugees. History of the presence of Afghan refugees in Iran for more than three decades has necessitated the study of different aspects of their lives. Analyzing the daily economic strategies of immigrants can help policy makers in the field of refugee status, especially in the economic field. Iran's urgent need for sustainable rural development can provide a good basis for the presence of immigrants in the agricultural and livestock sectors of the country. In order to achieve this, policies should be developed in the fields of rural and small town development, large-scale employment, rural poverty reduction, more humanistic rural planning, irrigation and agricultural development, rural industrialization. Also promoting the economic value process and changing unequal rural and urban proportions in economy, and last but not least providing sufficient capital for rural revitalization and spatial reconstruction should be consider as solutions in policy making. The data of this research have been obtained through profound anthropological interviews and participatory observation in the field of research, “Shahrak-e Qaem” in Qom city.