Editor’s Note
During the preparation of Issue 41 of Nameh-ye Ensan-Shenasi (Iranian Journal of Anthropology), discussions emerged within the editorial board concerning the nature and criteria of ethnographic writing. Since the outcomes of these discussions are closely related to the journal’s publication policy, we consider it appropriate to share them with our readers and contributors.
Ethnography is grounded in fieldwork, participation, and sustained engagement in the field, and it seeks to understand the social world from the perspective of actors’ lived experiences and horizons of meaning. An ethnographic text, however, is not merely a narrative of field experience or a compilation of observations. Rather, it should connect field data to scholarly questions and theoretical debates, thereby contributing to knowledge production through analysis. Accordingly, although ethnographic writing does not necessarily conform to the rigid and predetermined formats of conventional scientific articles, it is expected that fundamental elements such as a clearly articulated research problem, an explanation of the research methodology, adequate engagement with the existing literature, and a discernible theoretical perspective be clearly identifiable in the text.
In evaluating submissions, Iranian Journal of Anthropology places greater emphasis on originality and scholarly contribution, the quality of engagement with existing knowledge, analytical rigor, and clarity of writing than on adherence to formal templates. The journal aims to publish works that not only represent field experience effectively but also make meaningful contributions to the development of anthropological knowledge and the advancement of scholarly dialogue.
The past months were also marked by internet network disruptions and temporary interruptions in access to the journal’s submission system, creating difficulties for authors, reviewers, and the processes of manuscript evaluation and preparation. Nevertheless, thanks to the persistent efforts of the editorial team and the cooperation and patience of our authors and reviewers, this issue has been successfully published. We hope that the improvements made to the journal’s technical infrastructure will prevent similar problems in the future.
The articles in this issue cover a diverse range of anthropological topics and research fields, while also revealing several shared concerns. A number of contributions address the lived experience of suffering, crisis, and care, ranging from memories of war and earthquake to the everyday lives of caregivers of patients, as well as a theoretical reflection on the relationship between suffering, redemption, and recent trends in contemporary anthropology. Other articles focus on migration, ethnicity, language, and various forms of social acceptance, exclusion, and assimilation. In addition, this issue includes studies that revisit methodological and theoretical questions in anthropology, explore temporality and everyday life, analyze the fields of art and academia, and examine aspects of Iranian history and culture. Despite its thematic diversity, the collection reflects the efforts of researchers to understand contemporary social experiences and to expand the analytical horizons of anthropology in Iran.
Finally, we are pleased to announce that Iranian Journal of Anthropology has been re-indexed in the Islamic World Science & Thechnology Monitoring and Citation Institute (ISC) with a Q3 ranking. This achievement comes after a twelve-year absence from the indexing system. Re-indexation will enhance the visibility of the research published in the journal and represents an important step toward strengthening its position within the regional scholarly community. We regard this accomplishment as a significant milestone in consolidating the journal’s academic standing and hope that, through the continued enhancement of its scholarly standards and the publication of high-quality research, the journal will continue its path of growth and increasing recognition.

Mehrdad Arabestani
Editor-in-Chief, Iranian Journal of Anthropology
June 16, 2026