Tribalism in the Parliamentary Elections of Iran and Factors Related to its Continuity (The Case of Parsabad City, Ardabil Province)

Tribalism, the strong loyalty to one's own tribe, is a characteristic of traditional and tribal structures that still exist in some regions of Iran and can affect formal elections. This research aimed to investigate the factors related to the tendency towards tribalism in Parsabad's parliamentary elections of the Islamic Parliament of Iran. 

Methods and Data: 

This cross-sectional survey was conducted among 384 people over 18 years of age (who were eligible to participate in the elections) in Parsabad. They were selected through multi-stage cluster sampling technique. The data was collected by a questionnaire with content validity and Cronbach's alpha reliability. 

The research findings showed that legalism, the feeling of relative deprivation and the embodied dimension of cultural capital were related to tribalism in elections. 

Tribalism in the elections has led to the exclusion of people who could have provided many services at the local and national level. Key Message: A competent electoral system plays an important role in the formation of an efficient parliament and government as well as political and social stability. This aim is achieved when the mechanisms and cultural and social contexts of the elections are well-established. The election of worthy people from all tribes enables public participation in the administration of the country's affairs. Tribalism can be reduced by developing political parties.