- Pan-Iranism
Pan-Iranism is an
ideology that advocates solidarity and reunification ofIranian people s living in theIranian continent andIranian plateau ("Falāte Īrān"), includingOssetians , Kurds,Armenians ,Persians (including theTajiks andQizilbash ), Hazaras,Pashtuns ,Baluchis , and Zazas. Virtually all Pan-Iranists also include the Azeris, who although speak aTurkic language with considerable Persian vocabulary, are ethnic Persians, are of native Iranian descent, form the second largest linguistic group in Iran and share much of the same ethnic, cultural, and historical roots with the other Iranian people.These peoples lived within the same empire most of the time until the mid-1800s, when much territory - including the region comprising the present-day Republic of Azerbaijan - was lost to the
Russian Empire , as well asAfghanistan to theBritish Empire . "See also:Greater Iran andThe Great Game ". Iranian philosopherDr. Mahmoud Afshar (of Turkic-speaking Iranian Afshar origin and father ofIraj Afshar ) developed the Pan-Iranist ideology in the early 1920s as a reaction against the rising tide ofPan-Turkism andPan-Arabism , which were seen as potential threats to the territorial integrity of Iran. Unlike similar movements of the time in other countries, Pan-Iranism was ethnically and linguistically inclusive and solely concerned with territorial nationalism, rather than ethnic or racial nationalism. [ [https://www.gozaar.org/uploaded_files/Iranian_Identity%5B1%5D.pdf Perspectives on Iranian identity, pg.26] ]History
With the collapse of the
Qajar dynasty , which had descended into corruption, and the rise ofReza Shah Pahlavi in 1925, who began introducing secular reforms limiting the power of the Shia clergy, Iranian nationalist and socialist thinkers had hoped that this new era would also witness the introduction of democratic reforms. However, such reforms did not take place. This culminated in the gradual rise of a loosely organizedgrass roots Pan-Iranist movement made up of nationalist writers, teachers, students, and activists allied with other pro-democracy movements.In the 1940s, the Pan-Iranist movement gained momentum after the
Allied invasion. In the late 1940s and early 1950s, two political parties were formed based on the Pan-Iranist ideology, namelyMellat Iran and thePan-Iranist Party of Iran ("Hezb-e Pan-Iranist"). Though sharing this same political foundation and similar viewpoints on many issues, the two groups greatly differed in their organizational structure and practice. Both these parties are currently active inside the country and abroad. Since theIranian Revolution , there have also been other lesser known groups, both within Iran and without, which have adhered to Pan-Iranism.ee also
*
Greater Iran
*Iranian peoples
*Iranian languages
*Persian Empire
*History of Azerbaijan
*History of Iran
*History of Afghanistan
*History of Tajikistan
*History of Uzbekistan Further reading
*"Hezbe Pan Iranist" by Ali Kabar Razmjoo (ISBN 964-6196-51-9)
*Engheta, Naser (2001). 50 years history with the Pan-Iranists. Los Angeles, CA: Ketab Corp. ISBN 1-883819-56-3.References
External links
* [http://pan-iranism.com/ Pan-Iranism.com]
* [http://www.paniranist.com Official Pan-Iranist Party website]
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