Fluid Identifications and Persistent Inequalities: Social Boundary Making among Iranians in Hamburg

Moghaddari, Sonja (2016). Fluid Identifications and Persistent Inequalities: Social Boundary Making among Iranians in Hamburg. Anthropology of the Contemporary Middle East and Central Eurasia, 3(2), pp. 97-119. Sean Kingston Publishing

Text Fluid Identifications and Persistent inequalities.pdf - Published Version Restricted to registered users only Available under License Publisher holds Copyright. Download (856kB)

Research in transnational migration long neglected the study of power relations among migrants. In this paper, I explore within-group heterogeneity, viewing it as the outcome of the processes of social boundary making. How does social boundary making among migrants relate to their chances to generate capital in different local and transnational social fields? Focusing on dynamics between people identifying as Iranians and living in Hamburg, I critically discuss previous work that attempts to explain their lack of social cohesion. An ethnographic account of alliances and divisions that emerge around an Iranian cultural festival illustrates that social boundaries can constitute barriers to capital accumulation, but they can also be actively shaped in order to generate capital and overcome such limits. Through the analysis of this case study I argue that social boundary making among migrants reflects their engagement with local and global regimes of social inequality.

Interest & Impact

Downloads

2 since deposited on 07 Oct 2020
0 in the past 12 months

Citations

5 Citations in Web of Science ®
6 Citations in Scopus

Search

in Google Scholar™

Services

Actions (login required)

Edit item

Actions (login required)

Edit item