Local Development Agents: Sociological analysis of forces effective in the development of the Piranshahr border region

Development agents are highly significant in national and regional level. But, border regions` development agents with Kurdish origins have been always paid attention with highly sensitivity by national policy makers. Present research has three basic aims including: local development agent recognition, identification of agents` relevant processes, and exploration of barriers for each agent`s role in the process of local development. In order to explain theoretical context of the question, institutionalism approach with good government role in local development have been presented. Piranshahr border region, in the south of West Azerbaijan province, is the only formal border with Iraqi Kurdistan, and has experienced fast development changes in recent twenty years based on academic research and the researcher`s lived experience. Research method is qualitative and is based on the analysis of interviews and participatory observation. Sampling is done through purposive sampling; and Data has been collected through deep and group interviews with 30 local development agents divided in five groups including: governmental agents (from state and parliament), economical agents (from local investors, border merchants, carrier laborers, farmers), security agents (from Sepah military forces, Border Regiment forces), urban agents (from city managers and real-estate agents), and native social agents (from local confidants, NGOs, and Clergymen). Results show that agents from government, security, border, and economical agents including border merchants, carrier laborers, and local investors, have had affective experienced trends which have been mainly accompanied by interaction, opposition, indifference, ethnic respect preserve, and friendship. Serious barriers for local development have been recognized as nonnative agents, security point of view, ethno-centric view, and distrust to local people. Good government indexes have been variant based on institutionalism approach in different political states after revolution 1979. Based on research findings, local good government with upward planning look, using native agents, and participation of local people is the most appropriate strategy for the fulfillment of local development in Piranshahr border region.