Discourse analysis of ethnic policies of the Iranian Governments under presidential period(1368-1376)

This paper presents a discourse analysis of ethnic policies of the Iranian Governments during the presidential period (1989-1997). Our theoretical framework is Laclau and Mouffe Theroy of Discourse. The data were gathered from documents including development plans, laws of High Council of Cultural Revolution, and Cabinet of Ministers. Using critical discourse analysis, we identified master and floating signifiers of ethnic policies in each of the two periods. Our findings reveal that during the 8 years of President Hashemi Rafsanjani “Modernization of Ethnic Regions” was the master signifier, and political sovereignty and national unity were the floating signifiers of ethnic discourse in this period