This paper aims to investigate interactions between the Kurds and development agents in the field of sustainable development. The theoretical approach of the research is based on modernization theories. Research methodology is qualitative, with an emphasis on grounded theory. Data was collected through depth interviews, participant observation, document and secondary analysis. In the field of political development, document findings indicate that despite significant increase in participation of Kurdish people in elections, local managers and administrators still have the minimum role in political management of Kurdistan province. With regard to cultural development, results show that promises made to Kurdish people about quantitative and qualitative development of cultural elements, such as education in mother tongue and true representation of ethnic identity in local media, have not become materialized in practice. Among consequences of this situation are ‘dissatisfaction with the national media’ and ‘formation of resistance identity’ in Kurdistan. Manuscript profile

Iran has experienced significant changes in the distribution of employed population of ruralareas in major professional categories in the years 1956 to 2006. Accordingly, it is important to studythe changes in occupational structure, factors influencing these changes, and their implications. Themethodology of this study is documentary and secondary analysis. Moreover, in order to explain whythe changes were made, the development plans before and after the Islamic Revolution wereexamined. Findings indicate that the number of workers in agricultural sector during the years 1956,1966, 1976, 1986, 1996 and 2006 was 74.3, 61.7, 58.9, 57.7, 49.75, and 43.94 percent, respectively.According to the statistics, there has been a gradual reduction of the number of workers in theagricultural sector. Results also show that the average age of workers in the agricultural sectorduring the years 1966, 1976, 1986, 1996 and 2006 was 34.3, 37.6, 40.4, 40.5, and 40 years,respectively. The results of documentary studies suggests that oil price upward spiraling followed bythe reduction of government’s dependence on agriculture, implementation of the Land Reform Planregardless of the social and cultural structure of the rural population on one hand, and, on the otherhand, the tendency of the governments before and after the Revolution towards mechanizedagriculture without the necessary scientific and practical background have been major factors in theirrational reduction of workers in the agricultural sector. Among the most important social andeconomic consequences of this situation are the aging of workforce employed in agriculture, thedecline of agricultural development, the growth of false occupations, and the development of oileconomy. Manuscript profile

The present study investigates the culture of development in Hawrami proverbs. Analysis of development-related variables is the basis of sociology. As collective phenomena, proverbs are part of the oral culture of a society and their investigation can sociologically explain cultural and social foundations of the society. This research attempts to specify 6 development-related parameters in Hawrami adages combining the ideas of Max Weber and the current viewpoints in modernization theory. Documented data is analyzed through content analysis technique. Statistical population of the study includes 4500 Hawrami proverbs 299 cases of which are analyzed as they involve development-related variables. Unlike the prevalent outlook in modernization theory that anti-development components have a significant role in local communities like Hawraman, research results illustrate that pro-development variables in these proverbs are more than anti-development ones and that Hawraman’s underdevelopment stems from the inconsistency between development programs and social and cultural context of this society. Manuscript profile