Ethnic Cleavage
Introduction:
Ethnic tension is a severe problem to Iran, with more than nine different ethnic groups, with each of these groups having their own religion, that, most of the time, do not tolerate others', which further accelerates the problem. In fact, there were multiple violent clashes between the different races of Iran. For example, on October 18th, a bomb went off in Sistan-Baluchistan, killing 42 people. In Iran, 51% of the population is made up of Persians while the other 49% is made up of other minorities, causing conflicts between many different groups; especially between the Persians and the minorities. Ethnic cleavage had long been a problem for Iran and its effects on politics are tremendous, though to a lesser extend than religious cleavage.
Ethnic tension is a severe problem to Iran, with more than nine different ethnic groups, with each of these groups having their own religion, that, most of the time, do not tolerate others', which further accelerates the problem. In fact, there were multiple violent clashes between the different races of Iran. For example, on October 18th, a bomb went off in Sistan-Baluchistan, killing 42 people. In Iran, 51% of the population is made up of Persians while the other 49% is made up of other minorities, causing conflicts between many different groups; especially between the Persians and the minorities. Ethnic cleavage had long been a problem for Iran and its effects on politics are tremendous, though to a lesser extend than religious cleavage.
Historical cause:
Many Persians, despite their level of education, detested the Arabs. 1,400 years ago, the Arabs defeated the Persians in the Battle of Qadisiya, which is still remembered by many of the Persians. In order to prove their supremacy, Persians tend to conduct racist actions towards the non-Persians.
Moreover, in the mid-nineteenth century the shah's half brother gave the idea of separating southern Iran with the rest of Iran. Because of this, the rulers of that area refused to pay taxes to Tehran, and believed themselves to be an independent state. This helped the separatism within Iran grow. Furthermore, foreign supports for ethnic cleavage, such as those from the Russian, British, and Ottoman.
Constitution Revolution of 1906: Many Iranians were sick of the tyrannical rule of the monarchy. Organized by western intellects, the people started a revolt, wishing for an independent judicial apparatus and the rule of law. As a result, Iran switched to constitutional rule with rule of law and a system of legislation.
In 1908, when oil was discovered in the region that was dominated by the Arabs, the government employed various methods to dilute the population of Arabs in the region. The long struggles for independence of these different ethnic regions cause many violences within Iran.
Islamic Revolution of 1979: Despite launching the successful revolt, the constitution includes many content that limit the political participation of the people. Moreover, the clerics monopolized the power of political participation. Despite these obstacles, a group of people are still determined to obtain what they believed to be rightfully theirs. By voicing out these desires, they sometimes succeeded in having their voices heard, while other times were ignored altogether.
Effects on political participation:
The political participation in Iran is not really dictated by ethnicity, but more on religion. However, most of the people that are politically influential are those of Persian heritage. As one could tell from the fact that the official language of Iran is Persian. Moreover, the non-persian minorities all suffer from extremely high unemployment rates as high as 53.2% in Bashagard and with more than 19 areas with more than 30%. With a weaker economic ability, these minorities also have less influence on the government, thus the political participation for the non-persians is extremely limited. (Even though they can vote but the results are usually rigged, so the voting is pretty much meaningless).
Many Persians, despite their level of education, detested the Arabs. 1,400 years ago, the Arabs defeated the Persians in the Battle of Qadisiya, which is still remembered by many of the Persians. In order to prove their supremacy, Persians tend to conduct racist actions towards the non-Persians.
Moreover, in the mid-nineteenth century the shah's half brother gave the idea of separating southern Iran with the rest of Iran. Because of this, the rulers of that area refused to pay taxes to Tehran, and believed themselves to be an independent state. This helped the separatism within Iran grow. Furthermore, foreign supports for ethnic cleavage, such as those from the Russian, British, and Ottoman.
Constitution Revolution of 1906: Many Iranians were sick of the tyrannical rule of the monarchy. Organized by western intellects, the people started a revolt, wishing for an independent judicial apparatus and the rule of law. As a result, Iran switched to constitutional rule with rule of law and a system of legislation.
In 1908, when oil was discovered in the region that was dominated by the Arabs, the government employed various methods to dilute the population of Arabs in the region. The long struggles for independence of these different ethnic regions cause many violences within Iran.
Islamic Revolution of 1979: Despite launching the successful revolt, the constitution includes many content that limit the political participation of the people. Moreover, the clerics monopolized the power of political participation. Despite these obstacles, a group of people are still determined to obtain what they believed to be rightfully theirs. By voicing out these desires, they sometimes succeeded in having their voices heard, while other times were ignored altogether.
Effects on political participation:
The political participation in Iran is not really dictated by ethnicity, but more on religion. However, most of the people that are politically influential are those of Persian heritage. As one could tell from the fact that the official language of Iran is Persian. Moreover, the non-persian minorities all suffer from extremely high unemployment rates as high as 53.2% in Bashagard and with more than 19 areas with more than 30%. With a weaker economic ability, these minorities also have less influence on the government, thus the political participation for the non-persians is extremely limited. (Even though they can vote but the results are usually rigged, so the voting is pretty much meaningless).
Charts
Personal Response:
Rome was not built in one day, so was the ethnic cleavage in Iran. The ethnic cleavage between the majority Persians and the minority groups are induced by the resentment that has been piling up since long. According to the article 19 of the constitution, "all people of Iran regardless of their ethnic group or tribe enjoy equal rights; color, race, language, and the like, do not bestow any privilege". However, even though everyone "enjoy equal rights", their votes might not even be taken into consideration if they are against the theocracy ideologies. So does one's ethnicity influence their political participation? That question could only be answered depending on one's definition of "political participation". |
Bibliography
http://www.proconservative.net/PCVol7Is249RubinIranianStability.shtml
http://content.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1931402,00.html
http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2011/10/09/170927.html
http://www.rferl.org/content/iran_fears_ethnic_tensions_in_northwest/24318682.html
http://historum.com/middle-eastern-african-history/46075-ethnic-division-iran.html
http://www.ahwaziarabs.info/2013/08/poverty-highest-joblessness-among-arabs.html
http://www.gozaar.org/english/articles-en/Political-Participation-in-Iran.html
http://www.proconservative.net/PCVol7Is249RubinIranianStability.shtml
http://content.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1931402,00.html
http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2011/10/09/170927.html
http://www.rferl.org/content/iran_fears_ethnic_tensions_in_northwest/24318682.html
http://historum.com/middle-eastern-african-history/46075-ethnic-division-iran.html
http://www.ahwaziarabs.info/2013/08/poverty-highest-joblessness-among-arabs.html
http://www.gozaar.org/english/articles-en/Political-Participation-in-Iran.html