the problem of identity in NGOs:A Qualitative study of civil activists

One of the problems of iranian society, which is characterized by multicultural life and the diversity of social groups,is how different social identities are related to each other and the transition from singular identities to multiple identities. The Singular identities of society, by tightening the boundaries of identity, intensify the potential for social and identity conflict and fragment society. Civil associations as intermediary communities have a valuable role in modifying identity boundaries as well as expanding and generalizing cognitive and practical orientations of civil activists and transforming them from local “We’s” into collective and universal “We’s”. Via lived experiences of social activists, participating in NGOs, the present research is going to identify the grounds, strategies and identity consequences of sample civil activity of the City of Sanandaj. The present research has been conducted, using a qualitative approach and grounded theory method, among civil activists of Sanandaj. In order to select the samples, purposive sampling and maximum diversity method, and for collecting the data the semi-structured interview is used. In sampling research, 27 civil activists of Sanandaj, aged 28 to 48 participated.Based on the present study, Proud of Kurdish identity, Self Rethinking (reflexive social involvement), Iranian identity: Iranian and pluralistic descent,Crossing the border of the insider and the outsider have shaped dimensions of identity of activists in non-governmental organizations.According to the present study civil activities experienced by citizens of Sanandaj entail interethnic tolerance, dissatisfaction from the superiority of nonlocal ethnic groups, sense of discrimination, Kurdish identity representation, self-confidence, and inner peace. The core category signifies the reflexive identity in which implies the individual, collective, pluralistic, requirement and reflexive aspects of identity.