The Role of Ethnicity in Security of Borderline Areas (Case Study: Pan-Turkism in Borderline Areas of East Azarbayejan and Ardabil Provinces )

Race, Ethnocentrism or Ethnicity is a phenomenon which caused massive changes around the world. Our country, Iran, was also affected by this phenomenon, since it is located within pathway of historical immigrations of different races. One of obvious example of Ethnocentrism and Nationalism is emergence of Pan-Turkism, in extreme level, in the beginning of 20th century. It reviews the role of Ethnocentrism or Ethnicity in borderline areas of East Azarbayejan and Ardabil, focusing on Pan-Turkism. This was an applied and correlation study and the method was qualitative. Statistical population includes Islamic Councils and Public Constitution deputies of borderline areas of East Azarbayejan and Ardabil. Selecting examples and Sampling method was accidental and the formula for determining sample size considers 155 persons. Research tool is a 30-question scholar-made questionnaire. The validity of tool was measured by Cronbach Alpha and its value is 0.83 and its reliability is approved by formal reliability. Data were analyzed by statistical tests known as Spearman's rank correlation coefficient in SPSS. The results of hypotheses test show that there is no significant effect between Pan-Turkism ideas and public divergence of borderline areas of East Azarbayejan and Ardabil with Pan-Turkism advertisements from outside Iran border in social, cultural and security aspects. Moreover, Ardabil people knew Pan-Turkism purposes very well and their Iranian identity had a great power in neutralizing the effects of Pan-Turkism advertisements.