Iranian Journal of Sociology

Abstract This research examines the role of social organization among rural migrants in the city and its impact on local development, focusing on the perspectives of Portes and Boomsma within the Tehran-Vila neighborhood in Tehran's District Two. The study employed a qualitative approach with a grounded theory strategy. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews and narratives from 40 individuals (comprising three generations of migrants, including 13 women and 27 men) in Tehran-Vila (destination) and Bidok Yazd (origin), along with insights from 6 key informants, focus group sessions, field observations, and analysis of secondary statistical data. The resulting analysis identified the core category as "Migrant Social Organizations as Facilitators of Local Development." The findings indicate that the social organizations of rural migrants have acted as democratic institutions; by creating support networks and strengthening a sense of belonging to the neighborhood, they have contributed to improving the quality of life, enhancing social solidarity, and facilitating residents' participation in local development processes.