Document Type : Case Study
Authors
1
Assistant Professor, Department of Geography and Urban Planning, Hakim Sabzevari University, Sabzevar, Iran
2
MA in Demographics, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
Abstract
Social tolerance is the foundation of democracy and civil society, and cultural capital is one of the prerequisites for the emergence of social tolerance in a community. Therefore, this study aims to assess the impact of the cultural capital of the youth on social tolerance in three cities that are distinct in terms of population, geography, and culture. This is a fundamental study that adopts a descriptive-analytical and survey method. Data was collected using both documentary and field survey methods (questionnaires). The statistical population of the study includes young people aged 18-35 living in three cities of Khaf, Sabzevar, and Mashhad in Razavi Khorasan province. A sample size of n=1135 was calculated by Cochran's formula for the three cities using a multi-stage cluster sampling method. Data analysis was conducted using variance analysis, correlation coefficients, and multiple regression tests. The indices of cultural capital (subjective, objective, and institutional) were measured with 17 items, while social tolerance (identity-related, belief-related, and behavioral) was measured with 26 items. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.7, indicating the reliability of the research instrument. The results show that with rising population of cities, social tolerance is improved. Furthermore, as the components of cultural capital—whether objective, subjective, or institutional—improve among youth, their social tolerance is enhanced as well. The regression analysis of these indicators explains 59% of variance in the dependent variable (social tolerance). According to the findings, subjective cultural capital wields the greatest impact on social tolerance in the studies cities, followed by objective and institutional cultural capital, respectively.
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