Ahliat va Masir (Roots and Routes)- Narratives of identity and adaptation from Persian Bahá’í refugees in Australia

This study aims to discover what oral history narratives reveal about the post-migration renegotiation of identity for seven Persian Bahá’í refugees and to assess the ensuing impact on their adaptation to Australia. Oral history interviewing was used as the methodology in this research and a four-part model of narrative classification was employed to analyse the oral history interviews. This small-scale, case study research offers in-depth insights into the process of cross-cultural renegotiation of identities and of adaptation to new situations of a group who do not reflect the generally negative outcomes of refugees. Such a method fosters greater understanding and sensitivity than may be possible in broad, quantitative studies. This research reveals the centrality of religion to the participants’ cosmopolitan and hybrid identities. The Bahá’í belief system facilitates the reidentification and adaptation processes through advocating such aspects as intermarriage and dispersal amongst the population. The dual themes of separateness and belonging; continuity and change; and communion and agency also have considerable heuristic value in understanding the renegotiation of identity and adaptation. Participants demonstrate qualities of agency by becoming empowered, self-made individuals, who are represented in well-paid occupations with high status qualifications. It seems that their motivation to adapt is dominated by their desire to become functioning citizens as well as effective Bahá’ís. Despite the appearance of, almost model adaptation, these participants, like other refugees, have experienced enormous challenges and suffered humiliation and frustration through such factors as work discrimination, lack of self-esteem and culture shock. Although it is politely muted, there is also evidence of a strain to find aspects of value in the host culture, of a grappling with uninhibited freedom and individuality, of a struggle to tolerate slights and exclusionary practices, and of the experience of disempowerment in the face of diminished language facility