Application of the grounded theory to the social construction of ethnic violence Case Study: Kurdish and Turkic Elite of West Azarbaijan Province

The present paper attempts to derive a qualitative and grounded theory approach to the paradigmatic model of the concept of ethnic violence based on subjective perceptions and actors' interpretations and definitions of this concept.The research method is grounded theory method using Strauss and Corbin paradigm model. The qualitative data in this study were collected using in-depth interview technique. The subjects under study are 26 ethnic elites of West Azerbaijan Province from two Turkic and Kurdish ethnicities. They were selected based on qualitative / purposeful sampling method and theoretical saturation criterion. Continuous comparison method was used for data analysis during three stages of open coding, axial selection and selection.The data were collected in the form of 121 concepts and 13 central categories in the interviews with the Kurdish and Azeri Turkic elites. The results showed ethnic and religious divisions, ethnic nationalism, weakness of intercultural communication, media violence representation, ethnic power relations. Non-compliance with civil rights, non-establishment of civil society and discrimination are the most important causes of ethnic violence. The consequences will be a weakening of inter-ethnic cooperation, a weakening of national identity, insecurity and a threat to sustainable national security, forced migration of residents, and economic underdevelopment in West Azerbaijan province. Underlying conditions such as ethnic susceptibility are heterogeneous populations. Social tolerance, equitable distribution of wealth, power, dignity and social policymaking were identified as strategies for this phenomenon. Ultimately, the phenomenon of ethnic (political and social violence) emerged. ”