The culture of digital nomadism: An ethnographic study among Iranians in Türkiye

Hosseini, Qazale; Anvari, Zohreh; Vedadhir, AbouAli; Gorji Sefat, Kusha

doi:10.22035/jicr.2025.3520.3746

The culture of digital nomadism: An ethnographic study among Iranians in Türkiye

Document Type : Scientific Research Manuscript

Authors

Qazale Hosseini ¹

Zohreh Anvari ²

AbouAli Vedadhir ³

Kusha Gorji Sefat ⁴

¹ PhD Candidate in Anthropology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

² Assistant Professor, Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

³ Professor, Department of Anthropology and Health Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

⁴ Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

10.22035/jicr.2025.3520.3746

Abstract

Digital nomadism is a lifestyle built on digital technologies and travel, primarily characterized by mobility and remote work. Despite its seemingly free and enjoyable appearance, it carries inherent risks due to a "live-in-the-moment" ideology that often overlooks traditional and modern life planning. To understand Iranian digital nomads in Istanbul, Türkiye, we conducted a six-month ethnographic study with autoethnography approach, supported by thirty in-depth interviews. Participants were recruited using the snowball sampling method. Iranian digital nomads in Istanbul can be categorized into four groups based on their remote work arrangements: business owners, investors and experienced professionals; Salaried professionals with long-term remote contracts; Project-participants with short-term remote contracts; Novice and No-Contract Nomads. While many digital nomads seek freedom from restrictive rules, Iranian nomads place greater importance on achieving a better life and accessing global markets. This form of "no-destination migration", though seemingly escaping labor regulations and social boundaries, paradoxically demands a higher degree of self-organization and self-control. Sustaining a nomadic lifestyle necessitates a thorough understanding of domestic and international laws concerning visa issuance, residency, taxes, and insurance across various countries. Though seemingly borderless, the movement and freedom inherent in this life appear to create more fluid political, social, and cultural boundaries.

Keywords

Digital nomadism

no-destination-migration

cultural changes

liquidity of political boundaries

liquidity of social boundaries

Subjects

Cultural Studies

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