Navigating Ethnic Issues on Clubhouse: Digital Experiences of Autochthon Turks in Iran

This research investigates how issues related to ethnic politics in Iran are articulated by Turkish civil activists on the digital platform Clubhouse. It specifically examines: (1) The thematic categories under which these issues are raised; (2) The discursive dynamics shaping their discussion; (2) The organization and moderation of the chatrooms; and (4) The profiles of the participants. Employing a cultural sociology approach, the study analyzes how Clubhouse chat rooms –characterized by real-time verbal interaction– operate as emerging virtual public spaces for articulating ethnic grievances. It further explores whether these spaces facilitate the sharing of collective memory, the production of counter-hegemonic identity discourses, and the enactment of digital solidarity practices. The research ultimately aims to offer a descriptive analysis of the thematic content, discursive dynamics, organizational modalities, and participant profiles within this context of digital activism. A qualitative research method was employed in this study. Data were collected through participant observation by directly engaging in relevant Clubhouse chat rooms between 28 March and 1 May 2025. The data were subsequently categorized using conversation analysis. In accordance with the study’s objectives and research questions, the findings were organized and interpreted under four thematic headings: (1) Topics raised; (2) Discursive dynamics; (3) Organization and moderation of the chatrooms; and (4) Participant profiles. In the conclusion, the findings were evaluated through the conceptual lens of network power, networking power, networked power, and network-making power, as developed by Manuel Castells in his Network Theory of Power. The analysis also considered whether interactions on Clubhouse contribute to addressing issues stemming from ethnic politics in Iran. Furthermore, recommendations were proposed to enhance the effectiveness, inclusivity, sustainability, and solution-oriented nature of these virtual engagements. Overall, the study offers an original sociological framework for understanding the ethno-cultural activism of autochthon Turks in Iran within the virtual public space.