Diaspora in the Age of Globalization: A Case Study of the Iranian Diaspora in the United States

Majidi, Mohammad Reza; Nouripour, Ali

doi:10.22034/irfa.2026.529416.1291

Diaspora in the Age of Globalization: A Case Study of the Iranian Diaspora in the United States

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Mohammad Reza Majidi ¹

Ali Nouripour ²

¹ Associate Professor, Department of Regional Studies, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

² Researcher, Faculty of Law and Political Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

10.22034/irfa.2026.529416.1291

Abstract

Diaspora, defined as the dispersion of a nation's population beyond the borders of its homeland, has assumed heightened significance in the era of globalization. The expansion of global communication networks has enabled migrant communities to maintain strong cultural, identity-based, and political connections with their country of origin, empowering them as transnational actors in international relations. The Iranian diaspora—particularly in the United States—is one of the most prominent Iranian expatriate communities, with over one million individuals of Iranian descent residing in the U.S., many of whom emigrated following the 1979 Islamic Revolution. This study investigates the political role of the Iranian diaspora in the United States within the context of globalization. The central research question is: how does the Iranian diaspora function as a transnational political actor, and how can this role be interpreted through the lens of globalization? The research assumes that diasporic identity, when sustained over generations, can mobilize political engagement, especially when paired with access to soft power resources such as elite networks, economic capital, and cultural influence. Findings indicate that the Iranian-American diaspora has transitioned from decades of political disengagement to becoming an increasingly vocal and organized actor influencing U.S. policy toward Iran. Through lobbying efforts, media advocacy, and civic participation, it has helped shape narratives and policy agendas. However, internal divisions and fragmented identities remain obstacles to unified political influence.

Keywords

Diaspora

globalization

dual identity

soft power

transnationalism

Iranian-American diaspora

Subjects

Word Immigration and Iran`s Efforts

Article Title Persian

دیاسپورا در عصر جهانی‌شدن؛ مطالعه موردی دیاسپورای ایرانی در آمریکا

Authors Persian

محمدرضا مجیدی ¹

علی نوری‌پور ²

¹ دانشیار، گروه مطالعات منطقه‌ای، دانشگاه تهران، تهران، ایران

² پژوهشگر، دانشکده حقوق و علوم سیاسی دانشگاه تهران، تهران، ایران

Abstract Persian

دیاسپورا، که به‌عنوان پراکندگی جمعیت یک ملت در ورای مرزهای سرزمین مادری تعریف می‌شود، در عصر جهانی‌شدن اهمیتی فزاینده یافته است. گسترش شبکه‌های ارتباطی جهانی این امکان را برای جوامع مهاجر فراهم ساخته تا پیوندهای فرهنگی، هویتی و سیاسیِ مستحکمی با کشور مبدأ خود حفظ کنند و بدین‌سان، به کنشگران فراملی در عرصه روابط بین‌الملل بدل شوند. دیاسپورای ایرانی—به‌ویژه در ایالات متحده آمریکا—از برجسته‌ترین اجتماعات ایرانیان مهاجر به شمار می‌رود؛ به‌طوری که بیش از یک میلیون نفر با تبار ایرانی در آمریکا سکونت دارند و بسیاری از آنان پس از انقلاب اسلامی ۱۹۷۹ از ایران مهاجرت کرده‌اند. این پژوهش به بررسی نقش سیاسی دیاسپورای ایرانی در ایالات متحده در بستر جهانی‌شدن می‌پردازد. پرسش اصلی تحقیق آن است که دیاسپورای ایرانی چگونه به‌مثابه یک کنشگر سیاسی فراملی عمل می‌کند و این نقش را چگونه می‌توان در چارچوب نظری جهانی‌شدن تفسیر کرد. فرضیه تحقیق بر آن است که هویت دیاسپورایی، هنگامی که در گذر نسل‌ها تداوم یابد، می‌تواند به بسیج سیاسی منجر شود، به‌ویژه اگر با دسترسی به منابع قدرت نرم همچون شبکه‌های نخبگان، سرمایه اقتصادی و نفوذ فرهنگی همراه باشد. یافته‌های پژوهش نشان می‌دهند که دیاسپورای ایرانی-آمریکایی از دهه‌ها کناره‌گیری سیاسی عبور کرده و به کنشگری فزاینده، صریح و سازمان‌یافته در تأثیرگذاری بر سیاست آمریکا در قبال ایران بدل شده است. این کنشگری از رهگذر تلاش‌های لابی‌گری، فعالیت‌های رسانه‌ای و مشارکت مدنی، در شکل‌دادن به روایت‌ها و دستورکارهای سیاستی نقش‌آفرین بوده است. بااین‌حال، شکاف‌های درونی و هویت‌های گسسته، همچنان موانعی در مسیر اعمال نفوذ سیاسی یکپارچه به‌شمار می‌روند.

Keywords Persian

هویت دوگانه

قدرت نرم

فراملی‌گرایی

دیاسپورای ایرانی-آمریکایی

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