Journal of National Studies
Year:2011 | Volume:13 | Issue:1 (49)|Papers Count:7

The State includes of the independent political-geographical determinants that they are the most important division of the present world and this matter at first, is created in Iran and in Achaemenian period. The Main factor or factors are Reasons d' etre and Survival of State that they are important for appearance and continuation of state. Iran is a historic state that civilization and establishment of that has been passing several centuries. Some scholars and experts have expressed some opinions about the foundations of national identity, Reasons d' etre and Survival of Iran. Each of the research has been focused on a factor or some factors of Iranian national identity according to the specialty and interesting field of scholars. The main question of this research is, what are the Reasons of d' etre and Survival of Iran? And do these factors have the same share? Description-analytic method has been used in this research and the results of the survey show that Iran has several main Reasons d' etre and Survival.

Identity is regarded as a theoretical and practical problematic issue which constitutes a large body of literature in social planning, political actions and cultural policy-making, in the last decades. Thus, this study wants to Meta-analyze three sorts of studies on identity in a distinctive perspective. These are: general theories in sociology, theoretical studies focused on Iranian academic sphere, and research studies on Iranian identity. The findings demonstrate that the sociological theories are more effective to discuss identity than other scientific fields; While the theoretical studies focused mainly on national level of identity, the empirical ones highlighted the sub-nation and global dimensions of identity; Most of researches employed the constructivist approach; according to literature review of identity studies in Iran, the main sources of identity are Persian language, Shiite religion, Islam, Oriental Culture, Oriental Mystic, Modernity and National History. Generally, it could be mention that the sources of identity are diverse; as a result, this indicates that the aspects of Iranian identity in all levels portray a hybrid and synthetic constitutions.

The understanding of how people interact with each other is a major basis of the social interactions. These matters that how we understand others and we assessed them has an important role in communicating and even avoiding or rejecting the others. Basically, people think and behave toward others influenced by the mentality and directions of their mind, in other words, see the things that "should" see. Combination of knowledge (beliefs), emotions (excitement and emotions) and readiness for the action (desire) to certain phenomena and the others have significant effect on how form our actions and reactions.The role of mutual perceptions and conceptions of the groups from each other is one of the determining factors in strengthening or weakening the basis of national solidarity. Also, here, the concept of the group identity includes urban, tribal, ethnic, linguistic and religious identity that each of them with illustrating different behavior patterns and frameworks has their distinctive identities.In this study, we try to explain the phenomenon of stereotypes and to use of different theories for understanding the relationship between sense of identity in relation to stereotypes and assessing prejudice based on the survey finding.

Identity takes form in the moment that one asks oneself the question "Who am I?" Thus, identity can be construed as a matter of "meaning". In fact, by asking about "identity", people seek to understand the meaning of their own "self", the sort of meaning that takes form on the basis of correspondence with similar people and clash with dissimilar ones. "National myths and epics" constitute one of the prominent elements of identity and distinction of the communities. Ferdowsi’ Shahnameh is as the national emblem of Iranian society that contains stories about myths, epics and history of Iranian society which is in turn a narrative of the past, transmitting the bulk of identity elements of Iranian society to date. Iranian identity moans emotional attachment and commitment to the cultural and political heritage and common ethnicity of Iran. This article sets out to seek the meaning of Iranian identity by applying the method of content analysis to the story of Siavash in the Shahnameh. The result revealed that firstly, Iranian identity had gained recognition in contrast to Anyrani (non-Iranian) identity, and secondly, the political legacy, particularly the ideal king, is among the prominent elements of Iranian identity in this story. The essence of the concept of the ideal king encompasses a king enjoying splendor, charisma, wisdom and justice that has been crystallized in Siavash, the prince of Persian. In this story, other cultural elements and common genealogy constitute other subsequent layers of Iranian identity.

About fourteen centuries have passed since Ashura, but Imam Hussein and Ashura have a certain place in shia Identity and in the Muslim life and beliefs. Muharram is the heritage of Ashura for who like Ahl Al-Byt and is the peak turning point of humanity, freedom and manhood, and brings together millions of people each year for expressin the feelings and mourning. Pale increasing role of the natural environment and nature of identity and a symbol of mourning for this Event led the research toward studing the symbols of mourning and their relationship with nature in Bushehr and Sistan. The study by using of the literary texts, scientific articles and studies and field questions from researchers and anthropologists and experts in the field of religious, is trying to focus on effective environment variables on mourning, such as weather, normal condition, the coverage and location of the region. This research use of the analytical-descriptive method to explore the geographical themes of mourning rituals in Bushehr and Sistan. The results show that geopolitical and spatial characteristics of these two regions, has led to stability in behaviors and rituals of Ashura with maintaining the territorial integrity and safeguarding of religious values. This lead to the human growth and development of Islamic values in the neighboring ideological areas.

Religious beliefs in public memory has been appeared in myths and symbols of artistic works. So, In this paper we study the interval connections among visual, ideological and aesthetics symbols and the major beliefs and symbols in them has been cansidered. Many of these symbols had so many interpretations which comes from magic or ritual, so, in this research, we study Mithraism and Zoroastrian religions and understanding of thoughts and works with the name of art in religion. For this consideration, some interpretations, comparisons and suggestions of symbols has been used, also imaginable references has been expressed here and the hidden meaning full layers for bases of beliefs can be found in background of these symbols, is the sign of constructive roles of Iranian religions.This paper is an attempt for survey of Iranian identity by relying on great role of the reminder symbols of Mithraism and Zoroastrian religions in the way that we can use them in contemporary art and for performing the role of a media in the society and help to improve and support the solidarity arts of national culture of Iranians.In this survey we choose a group of Iranian graphic artists who are in different ages of Iranian graphic art, include: professor Gobad Shiva, professor Farshid Mesghali, Mr Farzad Adibi, Mr Reza Abedini, Mr Iman Rad and we study their art warks, due to the symbls of religious art works, as a result, we obtain some data that show them in a schedele.

In the history of Iran, ministers had always played a crucial role in ruling the country and acted as an institution in the heart of the government; they also acted as the heads of forces for defending the country.After the advent of Islam and the conquering of the country first by the Arabs and then by the Moguls, the role that ministers played in Iranian history became more conspicuous. The present paper attempts to provide a picture of the role of Iranian ministers in the development as well as the spread of national identity during Abbasid, Samanid, Qaznavid, and Saljooquid periods. The current research paper also states that the great Iranian ministers had definitely played an immensely important role in the preservation of the Iranian national identity, especially at times when Iran was under foreign occupation or when disasters inflicted the country.Amongst different things that these ministers have done to protect the Iraniain national identity are those related to attempts to preserve the cultural identity of Iran, emphasis on using the Persian language and its expansion across the region, attempts to expand and protect the Iranian territories and using the policies of ancient Iraniain kings in governing the country.