Iranian Azerbaijanis - from a "Well Integrated" Ethnic Minority to a Different Identity?

Year 2023, Volume: 7 Issue: 1, 25 - 52, 30.06.2023

Gulamhuseyn Mammadov

https://doi.org/10.33201/iranian.1242541

Abstract

Azerbaijan Turks constitute the second largest ethnicity of the Islamic Republic of Iran. They have faced pressure in the nation-building process that started with the coming to power of the Pahlavi dynasty, and this accelerated the formation of national consciousness in them. It was the result of these pressures that they took an active role in the Islamic Revolution. However, the formation of the national consciousness of the Azerbaijani Turks, who could not achieve what they wanted after this revolution, was triggered by the establishment of the Republic of Azerbaijan in 1991. Azerbaijan Turks, who have been exposed to the great cultural influence of the Republics of Turkey and Azerbaijan with the advantages brought by globalization, have started to shift from the “best integrated ethnicity” of Iran to a different identity that is opposed to the Iranian identity. The continuation of the process in this way has the capacity to bring great changes for Iran and the entire region.

Keywords

Nation-building, Iran, Azerbaijan, South Azerbaijan, Iranian Azerbaijan

İran Azerbaycanlıları – “İyi Entegre” Olmuş Etnik Azınlıktan Farklı Bir Kimliğe?

Abstract

Azerbaycan Türkleri, İran İslam Cumhuriyeti’nin ikinci büyük etnisitesini oluşturmaktadır. Pehlevi hanedanının iktidara gelmesiyle başlayan ulus inşası sürecinde baskılarla karşılaşmışlar ve bu durum onlarda milli bilincin oluşmasını hızlandırmıştır. İslam Devrimi’nde aktif rol oynamaları da bu baskıların bir sonucudur. Ancak bu devrimden sonra istediklerini elde edemeyen Azerbaycan Türklerinde milli bilincinin oluşması 1991 yılında Azerbaycan Cumhuriyeti’nin kurulmasıyla yeniden tetiklenmiştir. Küreselleşmenin getirdiği avantajlarla Türkiye ve Azerbaycan Cumhuriyetlerinin büyük kültürel etkisine maruz kalan Azerbaycan Türkleri, İran’ın “en iyi bütünleşmiş etnisitesinden” İran kimliğine karşıt farklı bir kimliğe doğru kaymaya başlamıştır. Sürecin bu şekilde devam etmesi İran ve tüm bölge için büyük değişimler getirme kapasitesine sahiptir.

Keywords

Ulus inşası, İran, Azerbaycan, Güney Azerbaycan, İran Azerbaycan’ı

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