The Factor of Nationalism in Iran’s Foreign Policy Discourse

The concept of nationalism has remained a current topic in both international politics and general discussions. From the 20th century onwards, nationalism, which started to enter the literature as a modern concept, was first seen in the West. The phenomenon of nationalism reached the peoples of the Middle East much later. In terms of our subject, the lack of studies on nationalism in the Iranian context in the literature draws attention. Many existing works tend to confine Iran within the framework of Shiism, portraying it as a realm untouched by Western nationalism. While it is clear that the phenomenon of Shiism cannot be entirely dismissed, relying solely on this concept is insufficient to explain a state like Iran, which possesses the characteristics of a nation-state. This study offers a multidimensional examination of Iranian nationalism, presenting various perspectives. Questions such as: Is Iranian nationalism influenced by religion? Is it intertwined with tribal structures? Has Persian nationalism been functional throughout history? are addressed. Furthermore, the study also explores how nationalism has influenced Iran’s foreign policy discourse and facilitated its regional expansion. Iranian nationalism is analyzed in a periodized manner, reflecting its transformations through various sources.