The Formation of Nationalism in Iran (Case Study: First Pahlavi)

The first formation of nationalism as the ruling ideology can be seen in the first Pahlavi era. This period deserves serious consideration and discussion since the perceptions and concepts that were promoted in the political structure of the first Pahlavi era have been the basis of debates that have continued to this day. While understanding the process of consolidation of the nationalist identity pattern in the first Pahlavi period, this article tries to analyze its internal elements and components around the four main axes of national unity, archaism, attachment to the homeland, and the continuation of the monarchy and the king's pivotal position. In the following, the foreign policy and orientation of Iran during the Reza Shah era - which was deeply influenced by the nationalist approach in Iran's international relations - is discussed. In this regard, this question arises: What are the principles of the identity of the government in Iran during the first Pahlavi era and what was its impact on Iranian foreign policy and international relations? In response, it is hypothesized that the identity of the Iranian government in the first Pahlavi era was based on a focus on Iranian nationalism in the country that, in terms of mimicking Western culture and abandoning the Iranian culture, caused inefficiency in domestic affairs and a lack of proper foreign policy in international relations. This research is written using library resources and with a historical-analytical approach.