Iranian Journal Of Antheropology

Iranian Journal Of Antheropology

Living with Suspended Time: Urban Rhythms and Ritual Temporalities in Rasht

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Zargham Fathi 1
Mahmoud Sharepour 1
Hasan Chavoshian 2
Fardin Alikhah 2
1 Department of Sociology, Faculty of Humanity and Social Sciences, University of .Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran
2 Department of Sociology, Faculty of Literature and Humanity Sciences, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran
10.22034/jasi.2026.2085795.1616
Abstract
In many Global South cities, urban time is often misperceived as mere chaos or institutional failure. This study challenges such reductionism by focusing on Rasht, Iran, where urban temporality exists in a state of “suspension.” The core problem is how this “suspended time”—a zone between formal regulation and social collapse—is produced and navigated through everyday rhythms and ritualized interactions. The primary objective is to deconstruct the “ritual temporal regimes” governing the city. This research is significant because it moves beyond static spatial analysis to offer a rhythmic understanding of urban life, revealing how temporal coordination functions as a mechanism for negotiating power and resource access in unpredictable environments. The study asks: How is the experience of suspended time embodied in Rasht’s daily rhythms? What role do bodily rituals and situational cues play in maintaining temporal order amidst institutional ambiguity? Adopting a rhythm analytical and ethnographic approach, the research is based on 21 intermittent but sustained field presences. The data comprises 53 systematically observed situations (ranging from 20 minutes to 3 hours), treated as distinct analytical units. This allowed for a comparative analysis of rhythms across different seasons, times of day, and institutional conditions. Findings indicate that urban time in Rasht is not a neutral backdrop but an unequal, negotiable, and embodied construct. Actors utilize “situated coordination” and gestural cues to create a fragile temporal order. The study concludes that these “ritual temporal regimes” are central to the city’s “time politics,” where power is exercised through the ability to negotiate duration. Ultimately, understanding these rhythmic nuances is crucial for deciphering practical governance and socio-economic inequality in Global South cities.
Keywords
Suspended time
Urban rhythm
Ritual temporal regimes
Embodiment
Global South cities
Practical governance
Subjects
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Iranian Journal Of Antheropology

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 26 May 2026