Iran’s National Identity Problem

Abstract

It is certain that “a stable Iran requires room for everyone: Iranian patriots, nationalists, clerics and all others.”1 This chapter thus addresses the following question: Can Tehran’s Islamic ideology be reconciled with nationalism? Barry Buzan argues that societal identity is a central component of the security problem.2 In light of this, has the Islamic state been successful in protecting and establishing a coherent national identity? Did the Islamic Revolution succeed in incorporating its Islamic ideals within the people’s identity? Various scholars in Iran have identified different elements of Iranian identity. Said Zahed describes the multidimensional and complex sources of Iranian identities, according to the scholars, in the following way: “Zabihollah Safa identifies ‘Persian language’ and ‘the institution of the kingdom.’ Motahari emphasizes the ‘Iranian’ and Islamic factors. Meskoob thinks of ‘history’ and ‘language’ as being the most important aspects of Iranian identity. Soroosh names ‘Iranian culture,’ ‘Islamic culture’ and ‘western culture’ as the three major components of Iranian identity. Farhang Rajaee adds Zoroastrian ‘tradition’ to the Iranian, Islamic and modern aspects. And Nikki Kiddie points to the ‘geography of the Iranian plateau’ and the ‘Persian language’ and ‘Shiite belief system’ as the chief constituent factors of Iranian identity.”3 The conflict-ridden juxtaposition of Islam and nationalism causes a discrepancy in Iran’s self-understanding. Nationalism in Iran invokes notions of the greatness of the pre-Islamic heritage as an authentic source of Iranian identity and advocates a territorial patriotism.