Impaired Spiritual Health and Social Cohesion: Explaining the Effects of Kharg Oil Terminal Bureaucracy on the Life of the Natives

Background and Objectives: Crude oil is the most important exported product and a major pillar of national economic development. The majority of Iran s crude oil exports are shipped from the Kharg oil terminal, which has required the establishment of massive oil facilities and related bureaucratic institutions on Kharg Island. Nonetheless, regardless of its economic benefits for the country, it is necessary to study the effects of this terminal on the life of island residents from different dimensions. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the cultural and social consequences of bureaucratic activities of this company from the experts perspective. Methods: In this qualitative research, the needed data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews. The participants included knowledgeable people with the most accurate and useful information about the subject of the research. Their views were obtained, and the data were analyzed using the qualitative content analysis method. Results: The initial codes were extracted from the data, and after refining and classifying them, 24 concepts were identified which finally fell into five categories. Accordingly, the reduced spiritual health and disintegration of social cohesion among the native residents of Kharg were identified as the major cultural and social consequence of the facilities and oil terminal of Kharg Island. Conclusion: As evidenced by the obtained results, it can be concluded that the merely economic and technological outlook on development and modernity is insufficient. Disregard for the cultural and social dimensions of modernity leaves adverse traces on people s lives. Therefore, it is indispensable that these dimensions be taken into account in a comprehensive and balanced way to avoid the risks of such measures.