Capital Flows in Iranian Diaspora Studies

While the circulation of diasporic capital has been widely discussed in migration studies through the analysis of economic remittances, direct investments, philanthropic practices, and so on, it is relatively rare in the emerging Iranian diaspora studies, which have tended to focus on identity issues. Iranian diasporic capital contributes, however, to the transnationalization of urban space in cities in countries neighbouring Iran, such as Istanbul, or in Western cities such as Los Angeles or Toronto through real estate investments and the creation of the so-called ethnic neighbourhoods. This capital has also contributed to patronage in the educational and cultural fields, leading to the appearance of numerous centres for Iranian studies or art foundations. The remittances of Iranian migrants also alter the socio-political organization of Iranian territories, one example being the impact on the southern territory of Iran of capital flows from Iranian migrants in the Emirates. This topic also enables us to analyze more deeply the divide between the Global south and North. In this presentation, I propose a broader reflection on the politics of money allocation in Iranian transnational practices through a multidisciplinary approach that draws mainly on economic sociology and economic geography.