Abstract:
This research examines the issue of why Iranians, who have not witnessed ethnic conflicts in the past 500 years and where ethnic identity has never turned into a political matter, suddenly began to face problems known as ethnic separatism starting from the year 1943. The research employs a library research method and a documental approach, utilizing historical data to draw conclusions from the analysis.
The findings of the study indicate that after the rise of Reza Shah, nationalist tendencies stemming from superficial readings of nationalism by influential intellectuals led to harm to the Persian language and a weakening of national identity. This situation fostered a sense of relative deprivation among ethnic groups, causing discontent and subsequently prompting non-Persian ethnic groups to take a stand against the Persian language and national identity. As a result, after Reza Shah's departure and the weakness of the central government, autonomous governments were established by groups such as the Azerbaijan Democratic Party, and the efforts to form independent governments by Kurds and other ethnic groups indicate social and political changes aimed at strengthening ethnic tendencies caused by the adverse effects of extreme cultural language policies during Reza Shah’s era.