Conditional Belonging: The Racialization of Iranians in the Wake of Anti-Muslim Politics

Iranians have a complex and contradictory relationship with race, with many Iranian Americans remaining marginalized and experiencing racial and political stigma. Conditional Belonging explores these contradictions through a comparative analysis of the Iranian diasporic experience in the United States and Germany, focusing on the different processes of racialization of the immigrants. It highlights how international events, global political policy, and national social climates influence the extent to which Iranians define themselves as members of their adopted nations, resulting in radically different experiences of belonging.

Format: Hardback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 18 April 2023
Publisher: New York University Press

Iranians have a complex and multifaceted relationship with race, which is often characterized by contradictory perceptions and experiences. While the US census categorizes Iranian Americans as "white," many individuals within this community still face marginalization and endure daily racial and political stigma. In contrast, Iranian Germans who have settled in Germany for decades are often regarded as good foreigners, yet they continue to experience marginalization and discrimination, highlighting the limitations of integration and citizenship.

Conditional Belonging: A Comparative Analysis of the Iranian Diasporic Experience in the United States and Germany delves into these apparent contradictions by examining the processes of racialization experienced by Iranian immigrants in both countries. Through eighty-eight in-depth interviews with first- and second-generation Iranians residing in California and Hamburg, author Sahar Sadeghi sheds light on how international events, global political policies, and national social climates shape the extent to which Iranians identify as members of their adopted nations.

The book explores the diverse experiences of belonging, or what the author refers to as "conditional belonging," for Iranians living in Western nations. While Iranian Americans may have situational access to whiteness in America, this privilege is not always extended to Iranians in Germany. The combination of these experiences leads to distinct perceptions, narratives, and experiences of being "but not belonging."

Conditional Belonging is a significant and timely work that broadens our understanding of the unpredictable and fluid nature of a sense of belonging to a country. It sheds light on the complexities and challenges faced by immigrants, particularly those from marginalized communities, as they navigate the intricacies of race, politics, and identity in Western societies. The book provides valuable insights into the experiences of Iranians in the United States and Germany, contributing to a more nuanced understanding of the global migration landscape and the challenges faced by immigrants worldwide.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781479804993