Iranian Nationalism and the Issue of Azerbaijan and the Turkish Language(Emphasizing on Periodicals of Transition Era From Qajar to Pahlavi)

This study is based on why during the second stage of the development of nationalism in Iran, anti-Turkism became the focus of attention of Iranian nationalists and the consequences of this approach for the position of the Turkish language in the history and geography of Iran? Following the broad scope of the temporal and thematic of issues concentrated on nationalism in contemporary Iran, This study is limited to articles that published in the press and magazines at the period of transition from Qajar to Pahlavi, such as "Kaveh", "Iranshahr", "Name ferangestan" and "Ayandeh". Based on the findings of this study, two factors caused the sensitivity and skepticism of Iranian nationalists towards the Turks and the Turkish language. The first factor was the reductionist understanding of the concept of the Iranian nation-state, based on the Aryan race and the Persian language. Another factor was the presence and influence of the Ottoman Empire in Azerbaijan and the western borders of Iran, and the independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan (1918) from Russia. As a result, Iranian nationalists became concerned about the influence and presence of Ottoman Turkish and Caucasian nationalists among the Turks of Iran. They considered the Turkish language in Azerbaijan as a threat to the existence and national identity of Iran. Attempting to eliminate the Turkish language in Azerbaijan and the spread of the Persian language instead was the solution of the Iranian nationalists in this situation.