A sociological study on the voting behavior of Iranians who became citizens in Turkey: Istanbul example-2024

This study analyzes the voting behavior of Iranian immigrants who have acquired citizenship status in Turkey. The increasing global mobility of migrants necessitates a deeper understanding of not only their economic activities but also their political orientations. Turkey, due to its geographical and political location, has long been intertwined with migration dynamics centered in the Middle East and has consequently become a significant destination country for large-scale migration movements. In this context, examining the voting behavior of immigrants who have obtained citizenship is crucial for understanding how they position themselves within their new social and political environments. The research is based on in-depth, face- to-face interviews conducted with 20 Iranian immigrants who have acquired Turkish citizenship. This qualitative study adopts a snowball sampling method to reach participants. Within the framework of theoretical approaches to voter behavior, the rational choice model suggests that individuals make deliberate and calculated decisions to maximize their own interests. In contrast, the sociological model posits that voters act in accordance with the cultural values, identities, and collective interests of the social groups to which they belong. The psychological model occupies a middle ground between these two perspectives, emphasizing voters' emotional attachment to political parties through primary groups such as the family. This study demonstrates that the voting behavior of Iranian immigrants who have acquired Turkish citizenship is shaped both by rational calculations and by cultural and identity-related factors rooted in their past experiences. Furthermore, it is observed that their levels of social capital also influence their voting tendencies. Keywords: Voting behavior, Voter, Political preference, Migration