سخن سردبیر

Editor’s Note
Vol. 15, No. 1, Spring 2026
The Journal of Social Studies and Research in Iran is dedicated to publishing theoretical-analytical, historical, and empirical contributions on issues and problems pertaining to Iranian society. It is evident that the social issues and topics in Iran constitute a vast, dynamic field with multiple and diverse dimensions. In each issue of the journal, within the limits of the available space and possibilities, a small portion of the scholarly and research efforts of social scientists—after completion of the requisite review processes—is selected for publication and made accessible to those interested in science and research.
The present issue brings together a number of studies, each of which illuminates and represents certain less-explored aspects of social issues and problems, thereby opening up new horizons for understanding Iranian society. Particular attention has been paid to establishing a meaningful linkage between conceptual and theoretical inquiries, on the one hand, and empirical data and field evidence, on the other—a concern that has been central to the work of the researchers and authors contributing to this issue.
Concerns such as the status and position of the social sciences within the landscape of Iranian thought and the strengthening of this scholarly field through the use of multiple methods and interdisciplinary approaches are examined in the articles “Further Notes on the Social Sciences in Iran” and “Biographical Analysis in the Social Sciences.”
The emergence of new subcultures and novel lived experiences, shaped by the expanding role of new technologies and increased presence in virtual spaces—alongside the consolidation of new semantic fields—are explored and analyzed in the articles “Religious Consonance in the Study of the ‘Lat’ Subculture,” “Selective Masculinity in Beauty Centers,” “Parental Supervision of Children’s Media Consumption,” “Virtual Migration Intention,” and “Veiling as a Field of Semantic Contestation.”
The two articles “Privatization as a Regime of Truth” and “The Desirable Rural Local Community” reflect socio-economic crises, policies, and resistances that offer fresh readings and analyses in critique of conventional development policies.
I wish to express my profound gratitude to the esteemed authors who have entrusted this journal with their scholarly writings, which are the outcome of arduous intellectual labor. I am likewise deeply indebted to our distinguished reviewers, whose meticulous and constructive rigor enhances the scientific quality of the articles, as well as to the members of the editorial board. I also extend my sincere thanks to Dr. Parvin Alipour, whose effective efforts and considerable investment of time in managing the affairs of the journal are invaluable.
The enhancement of article quality, the promotion of scholarly dialogue at national and international levels, and the support of problem-oriented research related to Iranian society are among the core principles and aims of this journal. Undoubtedly, along this path, adherence to research ethics, academic integrity, transparency, accuracy in the presentation of data, observance of citation standards, respect for the rights of participants, and avoidance of undue simplification or unscientific sensationalism are matters to which the journal is firmly committed.
It is hoped that the contents of this issue will constitute a constructive and influential step in sustaining social and scholarly dialogue in Iran.
Gholamreza Ghafari
Editor-in-Chief
Spring 2026