The familiar Outsider Bounded by Borders of Acceptance: A Theoretical Understanding of Afghan Immigrants’ Acculturation Difficulties through Rural Host Areas Acceptance
1
student, department of geography, Faculty of letters and Humanities, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad,
2
Faculty member
3
Associate Professor, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad
10.22067/pg.2026.98843.1447
Abstract
The large-scale migration of Afghans over recent decades has made Iran one of the most important destinations for this population. According to available statistics, 1,583,979 registered Afghan migrants and approximately 3.5 to 4 million unregistered migrants are currently present in Iran. The acceptance of migrants by the host society is one of the most important key factors in the acculturation process. The present study, adopting a theoretical-analytical approach and drawing on a critical review of the literature, examines the acculturation of Afghan migrants in rural areas of Iran with an emphasis on mutual acceptance. The findings indicate that acculturation challenges are reproduced across different ecological levels: at the microsystem level through everyday interactions and experiences of discrimination or social support; at the mesosystem level through the functioning of local institutions; at the exosystem level in the form of policies and executive practices; and at the macrosystem level under the influence of national laws and discourses. In addition to expanding the acculturation literature in a non-Western context, this framework provides a basis for proposing policy solutions for managing relations between migrants and the host society. Accordingly, without strengthening structures of acceptance, the acculturation of migrants cannot lead to social cohesion, national integration, and sustainable development.
Akbari, Z., Shayan, H. & Sejasi Qeydari, H. (2026). The familiar Outsider Bounded by Borders of Acceptance: A Theoretical Understanding of Afghan Immigrants’ Acculturation Difficulties through Rural Host Areas Acceptance. (e48857). Research Political Geography Quarterly, (), e48857 https://doi.org/10.22067/pg.2026.98843.1447
MLA
Akbari, Z., Shayan, H., & Sejasi Qeydari, H. "The familiar Outsider Bounded by Borders of Acceptance: A Theoretical Understanding of Afghan Immigrants’ Acculturation Difficulties through Rural Host Areas Acceptance" .e48857 , Research Political Geography Quarterly, , 2026, e48857. doi: 10.22067/pg.2026.98843.1447
HARVARD
Akbari Z., Shayan H., Sejasi Qeydari H. (2026). 'The familiar Outsider Bounded by Borders of Acceptance: A Theoretical Understanding of Afghan Immigrants’ Acculturation Difficulties through Rural Host Areas Acceptance', Research Political Geography Quarterly, (), e48857. doi: 10.22067/pg.2026.98843.1447
CHICAGO
Z. Akbari, H. Shayan & H. Sejasi Qeydari, "The familiar Outsider Bounded by Borders of Acceptance: A Theoretical Understanding of Afghan Immigrants’ Acculturation Difficulties through Rural Host Areas Acceptance," Research Political Geography Quarterly, (2026): e48857, doi: 10.22067/pg.2026.98843.1447
VANCOUVER
Akbari Z., Shayan H., Sejasi Qeydari H. The familiar Outsider Bounded by Borders of Acceptance: A Theoretical Understanding of Afghan Immigrants’ Acculturation Difficulties through Rural Host Areas Acceptance. PG. 2026;():e48857 (In Persian). doi: 10.22067/pg.2026.98843.1447
