Generational Change and Social Identity in Kurdistan:The Study of the Youths in the City of Saqiz

The main purpose of the present article is to study the relationship between the change across generations and social identity among the youth in the city of Saqiz. In so doing, we have focused on the effects of globalization process on the youth’s social identity structure, and the nature of generation shift. Empirical levels of the research include level of generation shift and relations with the parents, level of social identity and friendship spaces, and level of globalization process and influence of media. In accordance with them, Ronald Inglehart’s theory of cultural shift and Manuel Castells’ theory of network state serve as theoretical framework of the research. The method of the research is qualitative. Data gathered using deep interview technique with 60 youth. According to the research findings, although the difference between generations is limited to cultural-social fields and particularly to the normative levels, social identity of the youth today is floating, inconsistent and incoherent. Its elements are the lack of power lessness, model lessness and precedent, and objection.