Are the Characterisitcs of Exiles Different from Immigrants? The Case of Iranians in Los Angeles

The main objective of this paper is to use the Iranian case to test three hypotheses about the demographic, religious, and socioeconomic differences between immigrants and political refugees or exiles, which are commonly found in the literature. These hypotheses are tested by using data from the 1980 U.S. Census Public Use Microdata Sample for the 1975-80 and the pre-1975 Iranian immigrant cohorts. Our first hypothesis is that the 1975-80 immigrants include a higher proportion of religious minorities than the pre-1975 immigrants. Our second hypothesis is that the 1975-1980 cohort, composed of a large number of refugees, is much more balanced with respect to age and sex distribution than the pre-1975 cohort. The third hypothesis is that Iranians who arrived in 1975-80 had a higher socioeconomic achievement than those who came before that date. The analysis of data from the 1980 U.S. Census on immigration cohorts is preceded by a brief review of trends and types of Iranian immigration to the United States as documented by tabulations from the INS. While these tabulations pertain only to the United States, they also reflect immigration trends to Los Angeles, since this metropolitan area is the favored destination of Iranian immigrants to the United States

Subethnicity: Armenians in Los Angeles

Diversity is one of the major current themes in the field of immigrant and ethnic studies. Scholars are increasingly attentive to national-origin diversity among groups such as Hispanics in the United States (Portes and Truelove 1987;Nelson and Tienda 1985). They argue that differences in group characteristics, migration histories, and reception contexts affect the adaptation of immigrant groups. In some cases, however, ethnic diversity does not stop at the nationality level,and may take different forms. For instance, Iranians consist of ethno-religious subgroups (Armenians, Bahais, Jews, and Muslims), whereas Vietnamese include ethnic Chinese from Vietnam (Bozorgmehr 1990; Desbarats 1986; Sabagh et al. 1989). Armenians have co-ethnic counterparts of different national origins such as Iran, Lebanon, or the Soviet Union. The aim of this paper is document internal diversity among Armenians and thus demonstrate the need for taking into account subethnicity among Armenians

Los Angeles : l'économie ethnique iranienne

The Iranian ethnic economy in Los Angeles Ivan LIGHT, Georges SABAGH, Mehdi BOZORGMEHR and Claudia DER-MARTIROSIAN An ethnic economic system is made of independent workers and their ethnic compatriots. This study deals with the cleavage between the « ethnic economy » notion (and its variant, an « enclaved ethnic economy »)and that of « national groups of immigrants ». Ethnic groups indeed do not necessarily coincide with national origins. To illustrate this assumption, we use an inquest made on Iranians living in Los Angeles. Starting from the fact that this national group of immigrants is divided in four ethnico-religious sub-groups (Armenians, Baha'is, Jews and Moslims), Iranians living in Los Angeles regroup in distinct ethnic economies and not in a unique one. Each ethnico-religious sub-group owns its own ethnic economy and those divided economies are only but far linked with a global Iranian ethnic economy.Los Angeles : l'économie ethnique des Iraniens Ivan LIGHT, Georges SABAGH, Mehdi BOZORGMEHR et Claudia DER-MARTIROSIAN Un système économique ethnique se compose de travailleurs indépendants et de leurs compatriotes ethniques. Cette étude traite du clivage entre la notion d'« économie ethnique » (et sa variante, une « économie ethnique enclavée ») et celle de « groupes nationaux d'immigrants ». Les groupes ethniques en effet ne coïncident pas nécessairement avec les origines nationales. Pour illustrer cette hypothèse, nous utilisons une enquête faite sur les Iraniens habitant à Los Angeles. Partant du fait que ce groupe national d'immigrants est divisé en quatre sous-groupes ethnico-religieux (les Arméniens, les Baha'is, les Juifs et les Musulmans), les Iraniens résidant à Los Angeles se regroupent dans des économies ethniques distinctes et non pas dans une économie unique. Chaque sous-groupe ethnico-religieux possède sa propre économie ethnique et ces économies séparées ne sont que lointainement reliées à une économie ethnique iranienne globale.Los Angeles : la economia étnica de Los Iraníes Ivan LIGHT, Georges SABAGH, Mehdi BOZORGMEHR y Claudia DER-MARTIROSIAN Un sistema económico étnico se compone de trabajadores autónomos y de sus compatriotas étnicos. Este estudio trata de la discrepancia entre la noción de economía étnica (y su variante. « una economía étnica enclavada ») y la de « grupos nacionales de inmigrantes ». En efecto, los grupos étnicos no coinciden de forma necesaria con los orígenes nacionales. Para ilustrar esta hipótesis, utilizamos una encuesta llevada a cabo entre los iraníes que viven en Los Angeles. Partiendo del hecho que este grupo nacional de inmigrantes se divide en cuatro subgrupos étnico-religiosos (los armenios, los bahais, los judíos y los musulmanes), los iraníes que residen en Los Angeles se agrupan en economías étnicas distintas y no en una economía única. Cada subgrupo étnico-religioso posee su propia economía étnica y estas economías separadas entre sí, no se encuentran vinculadas a una economía étnica global iraninás que de manera muy remota.Light Ivan, Sabagh Georges, Bozorgmehr Mehdi, Der-Martirosian Claudia, Body-Gendrot Sophie, Ma Mung Emmanuel, Hodeir Catherine. Los Angeles : l'économie ethnique iranienne. In: Revue européenne des migrations internationales, vol. 8, n°1,1992. pp. 155-169

The study of the middle east : research and scholarship in the humanities and the social science

Leonard Binder reviews research and intelectual trends by ten leading specialists in Middle East studies. It analytically surveys contemporary scholarship and critically evaluates new achievements and older prejudices. Isolating gaps in current knowledge and anomalies in existing interpretations, this comprehensive state-of-the-art presentation stresses the importance of identifying areas of research that will require financial and human investment ever the next decade.vii, 648 p.; 24 c