Conflict in Iran (Typology, Background, Causes and Dominant Factors)

Collective conflict in local communities is always an issue that has been the focus of social researchers in our country in recent years. This occurrence poses a threat to the peace, security, and quality of life of the populace, particularly in traditional and tribal communities, where it induces tendencies toward dominance and anxiety. In recent years, it has been increasing in our country and for this reason, many researchers have investigated this phenomenon, the current research was conducted to understand the background, causes, and main factors of conflict formation in Iran.This investigation implemented the meta-synthesis methodology. The demographic of our study 34 articles were chosen in accordance with the criteria, and they were published in scientific journals and theses. We conducted an analysis of the findings of this investigation and identified 10 categories. In order to ensure the quality of our categories, we obtained the approval of an expert and calculated Cohen’s Kappa coefficient.The findings of the research indicate that the studies conducted at the level of description have primarily concentrated on the relationship between background variables and the degree of tendency to conflict. The research conducted at the level of explanation has identified social, cultural, and ecological causes as effective in generating conflict. Some research has attempted to address this phenomenon by proposing solutions such as restorative justice and trust. In the most extensively researched studies, the primary causes of collective conflicts are scarcity, environmental challenges, vertical collectivism, tribalism, and rights and property issues.Its analysis and meta-synthesis demonstrate that the primary causes and factors of collective conflicts in Iranian society have been centered on the three primary axes of tribalism and vertical collectivism, as well as the challenges of rights and property and environmental resources. The conflicts that transpired in the central and arid regions of Iran were primarily precipitated by environmental and resource constraints, while those that transpired in the west and southwest were primarily influenced by tribalism and its repercussions. In the east and south-east, conflicts have been primarily influenced by the experience of conflict, deprivation, and socio-political insecurity. In the northern areas, there have been more causes of inequality and a sense of relative deprivation.