The Legal Dimensions of Belonging in Border Regions: A Narrative Study
Keywords:
Legal belonging, statelessness, border regions, narrative inquiry, citizenship, legal exclusion, identity, IranAbstract
This study aims to explore the legal dimensions of belonging among individuals with border-region heritage in Iran, focusing on how legal exclusion and institutional interactions shape their lived experiences and narrative identities. This qualitative study employed a narrative inquiry approach using semi-structured interviews with 30 participants residing in Tehran who had personal or familial histories connected to Iran’s border regions. Participants were selected through purposive sampling, and data collection continued until theoretical saturation was achieved. All interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using thematic narrative analysis via NVivo software. The study focused on capturing the subjective experiences of participants concerning legal documentation, institutional encounters, and expressions of social and national belonging. Analysis revealed three overarching themes: legal recognition and documentation, spatial and social belonging, and institutional interactions and resistance. Participants described prolonged legal ambiguity, such as statelessness, bureaucratic exclusion, and document-based identity erasure. The emotional consequences of legal invisibility—such as humiliation, fear, and alienation—were pervasive. Simultaneously, participants engaged in everyday practices of cultural affirmation and narrative resistance. Some avoided state institutions altogether, while others actively sought legal remedies through NGOs and advocacy networks. Intergenerational shifts in identity and belonging were also observed, with younger participants adopting more fluid or assimilated national identities. The study demonstrates that legal belonging in border-related contexts is deeply embedded in personal narratives, social practices, and emotional landscapes. Legal exclusion operates not only through policy and law but also through daily interactions and internalized perceptions of legitimacy. Understanding these lived realities is essential for designing humane and inclusive legal frameworks that address the rights and recognition of marginalized populations in border regions.
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