Nationalism in iran and reflections on the region

Nationalism is an issue that has never lost its importance both from the aspect of International Politics and Political Science in general. Despite its political popularity which occupies almost continuously the world political agenda, the scarcity of works discussing nationalism in the context of Iran is obvious. Hence, Iran, has been hosting the most interesting types of nationalisms. There are many ?nationalism?s which differ from each other. Nationalism, which is the subject of various discussions theoretically, becomes much more complex when Iran as regards. Any debate over nationalism will be able to find out materials in Iran as an area. The usage of Iran as a term with its contemporary meaning is far a new fact as regard as esteemed. Nevertheless it can be specified that Safavids, among the states established in the geography of Iran, paved the way for the instutionalisation of Shiism. But, being a nation for Iran coincides with the late Qajar era. Balance of power, Constitutional Revolution and the First World War are the fundamental facts that shaped the nation. Farsi (Persian) nationalism with its Indo-Arianist basis, became the state ideology following the accede of Reza Shah to the throne. Mosaddegh era is a good example for Iranian nationalism based on patriotism. Mohammed Reza Shah in this context had been a persecutor of his father. However, after 1979, the religious features of the regime has been a backing and not an obstacle for the development of the Perisan nationalism inside and abroad. Azerbaijani Turkish nationalism could be assumed as old as Iranian nationalism through the political history of Iran. Even it sometimes has been seen in the Iranian national integrity, its challenges at 1920, 1945 and especially after the 1990?s has transformed this movement into a genuine political movement; and passed through another treshold after the incidents of 2006. Kurdism is another political movement, developed with the external effects. Kurdish nationalism has been built up under the circumstances of Russia?s and Britain?s policies towards Turkey and Iran. But got free of its tribal characteristics partially with 1960?s. Arab and Baluch nationalisms are other two nationalisms living in Iran with relatively small populations. All those communities, are adjacent to the co-ethnic components who are living in surrounding area of Iran. So they are in interaction with those nationalisms on the other sides. In the near future, ?t is obvious that nationalisms in Iran will occupy the agenda both at academical and actual levels.