’If I go, who stays?’: Iranian university students’ perceptions of the sociopolitics of emigration

The inclination towards leaving Iran and residing abroad is growing among many Iranians as a result of multifaceted socioeconomic and political dynamics, but understandings of emigration remain underexplored in this context. This study delves into how Iranian university students perceive emigration and how their perceptions are shaped in this regard. A diverse group of 43 students across seven universities in Tehran participated in interviews to share their perspectives on emigration and the sources of these perspectives. The findings suggest that while an image of a better life abroad, predominantly crafted by foreign media and influenced by university and family/friends, motivates some participants to emigrate, a smaller group, bound by national, cultural, and personal ties, exhibit reluctance to leave. Aspects of the construction of these complex perceptions are discussed along with possible messages for other contexts where emigration is an issue.