essay

Minority-state relations in contemporary Iran

state, religion, and ethinic politics : afghanistan, iran, and pakistan[Syracuse, N.Y.] • Published In 1986 • Pages: 167-197

By: Higgins, Patricia J..

Abstract
Higgins examines the fate of minority groups under two regimes, the Pahlavi (1906-1978) and Islamic (1978-1979) Republics. She focusses on three main groups: Baha'is, Kurds, and Azerbaijanis. The constitutions of both regimes are similar in granting individual rights and equality of all citizens before the law. Both republics are highly centralized states. Only the Zoroastrian, Jewish, Armenian, and Assyrian Iranians were guaranteed religious freedeom and limited autonomy. The major difference between the regimes is how they constituted national unity and identity: Persian language and history vs. Shi'ism. Higgins discusses how fortunes of minority groups changed from one regime to the next and the response of minority groups to shift their ethnic markers in order to better position themselves in the new state.
Subjects
Ethnic stratification
Citizenship
Form and rules of government
Political movements
Revolution
Religious denominations
Religious intolerance and martyrs
culture
Iran
HRAF PubDate
2000
Region
Middle East
Sub Region
Middle East
Document Type
essay
Evaluation
Creator Type
Social Scientist
Document Rating
4: Excellent Secondary Data
5: Excellent Primary Data
Analyst
Ian Skoggard ; 2005
Field Date
unknown
Coverage Date
1906-1979
Coverage Place
Iran
Notes
Patricia J. Higgins
Includes bibliographical references
LCCN
86006048
LCSH
Iranians