نوع مقاله : علمی-پژوهشی
عنوان مقاله English
نویسندگان English
Introduction
In the digital age, social networks play an important role in the formation of
individual and social identities. Social identity includes ethnic and national
dimensions; ethnic identity is rooted in the culture of origin, and national identity
refers to territorial and political belonging. The spread of digital media has
transformed identities and has globalized information by removing time and space
constraints. Younger generations, who are more exposed to these media, have more
layered and flexible identities. In Iran, especially in border regions such as
Kurdistan, ethnic identity has become more prominent and has sometimes been
accompanied by a weakening of national identity. Mahabad, with a predominantly
Kurdish population, is a suitable example to examine this phenomenon. This study,
focusing on generational differences, the role of social networks, and the interaction
between ethnic and national identity, examines the extent to which generations use
media and their impact on identities. The innovation of the study lies in combining
the three aforementioned axes and focusing on the Kurdish region; A topic that has
rarely been examined simultaneously in previous studies.
Materials & Methods
The present study was conducted with a quantitative approach and survey technique.
The statistical population included people aged 15 and above living in Mahabad, and
the sample size of 384 people was determined by the mixed sampling method. Data
were collected through a researcher-made questionnaire. The dependent variable
included national identity (ancient, religious, civil) and ethnic identity, which were
measured with a Likert scale. The reliability of the instrument was confirmed with
Cronbach's alpha between 0.70 and 0.91. The independent variables included
generation, amount of use of social networks, gender, marital status, education, and
socio-economic status. Data analysis was performed using SPSS statistical software.
Discussion and Result
The findings of this study show that 63 percent of respondents are members of
Instagram and Telegram social networks, and the level of use of these platforms
differs significantly between generations; especially younger generations spend
more time using these networks, especially Instagram. Also, a significant difference
in ethnic identity was observed between generations; such that older generations
have a stronger ethnic identity, while younger generations have a lower tendency
towards it. In contrast, there was no significant difference in national identity
between generational groups. Membership in social networks has strengthened
ethnic identity and weakened national identity for those born in the 1990s. Men have
a higher national identity, married people have a higher tendency towards ethnic
identity, and higher education level is associated with an increase in both types of
identity; while higher socioeconomic status is associated with a decrease in ethnic
identity. The results of the study are consistent with the symbolic interaction theory
of identity formation in interaction with the media. Giddens’s globalization theory
explains the decline of national identity in media users, and Mannheim’s
generational difference theory explains the observed differences based on the
historical experiences of generations, such as the Republic of Mahabad (1946).
Older generations have a stronger ethnic identity, while new generations face mixed
identities. The findings are consistent with the studies of Namdari (2018) and Smith
(2018), but differ from the results of Afshani and Mousavi (2017), who rejected the
relationship between media and national identity. The historical experiences of the
Kurds, including repression and assimilation policies, have strengthened ethnic
identity, and the media have intensified this process in the younger generation.
Conclusions
The findings of the present study show that social networks have strengthened ethnic
identity and weakened national identity in younger generations, and this trend is
accompanied by significant generational differences. These cultural-technological
changes, within the framework of Castells's theory (1980), highlight the necessity of
designing educational programs that emphasize the synergy and complementarity of
national and ethnic identities, including promoting cultural heritage and improving
media literacy. Research suggestions include conducting comparative studies at the
global level, a more detailed examination of identity components, and a focus on
cultural diversity in policymaking. Among the limitations of the study are the
geographical focus on the city of Mahabad, which limits the generalizability of the
results, and the use of a quantitative method that needs to be supplemented with
qualitative approaches. Overall, this study can help formulate effective cultural
policies to maintain a balance between ethnic and national identities
کلیدواژهها English
