The Study of Factors Affecting Identity Preferences in Ethnic Regions: A Survey Study on Kurdish Regions

Kurdish regions have been of significance with regard to identity demands during recent decades. Proximity to Iraqi Kurdistan makes the situation more complex and sensitive as well. Due to the Iranian multi-ethnic context and also global changes, the discussion of identity preferences has gained an increasing momentum. The present paper aims at studying the factors affecting identity preferences in Kurdish regions using a multiple-method approach (documentary and survey) and the data were collected by using macro and micro questionnaires. The sample consisted of 630 male and female kurds aging between 18 to 60, residing in Sanandaj and Sardasht and selected through a multi-stage cluster sampling method. The final questionnaire was given to the sample in the spring of 2009. The results indicated that identity preferences of the respondents were based on the feelings of unity and identity with the indices of ethnic community and the feeling of distinction against national community. Moreover, the Kurds under study consider themselves culturally close to other Iranian ethnics although they believe in a gap between the Iranian identity and the political field. The results of a multivariate analysis revealed that the level of development in Kurdish regions, the degree of economic, cultural and social capitals, the type of feeling and conception about cultural and social objects affected identity preferences which could finally explain 66 percent of the identity preferences variance.