1- PhD Student, Department of Sociology of Iranian Social Issues, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran. , seyedvahidmirkalantar@gmail.com
2- Professor, Department of Sociology, Faculty of Literature, Humanities and Social Sciences, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
3- Department of Sociology, Faculty of Literature, Humanities and Social Sciences, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract: (17 Views)
Objective: The main objective of this study is to explore the relationship between social crises in the city of Ahvaz and the social capital of citizens, with a particular focus on employees in the oil industry.
Methods: This research employed an exploratory design based on mixed quantitative–qualitative data. Qualitative findings were used to complement and deepen the quantitative data. The statistical population consisted of all managers, experts, and experienced staff of the Ahvaz oil industry across different organizational levels and positions. Due to the limited number of skilled experts in the company, purposive sampling was applied, and in-depth interviews were conducted with selected participants. Both primary and secondary data were utilized. Secondary data were collected through a library-based review of books, articles, and theses. Primary data were gathered through fieldwork and in-depth interviews, following the grounded theory approach.
Results: The findings indicate that factors influencing the emergence of social crises can be divided into primary causes and contextual factors. Prominent explicit or latent causes include social harm, poverty, cultural differences, youth-related emotions and excitements, and social restarts. Contextual factors—while exerting influence on primary causes—play a facilitating role and often appear superficially. These include the penetration of the internet enabling rapid information exchange, the role of virtual social media in content creation and rumor-spreading, the influence of audio-visual media in shaping public opinion, satellite television networks in generating distrust and hopelessness and even organizing protest gatherings, along with mismanagement, policy failures, and dysfunctional governance.
Conclusions: The study demonstrates a significant relationship between social crises and the social capital of employees in the Ahvaz oil industry. Addressing both the underlying and contextual factors of crises is essential for strengthening social capital and mitigating potential disruptions in organizational and community settings.
Type of Study:
Original |
Subject:
Educational Studies Received: 2025/02/11 | Accepted: 2025/04/19 | Published: 2025/09/1