Tribes,Ethnics And The Building Of Modern Nation: A Study On Separatist Movement In Iran (1941-1946)

In August 25 th 1941,troops of the UK and the Soviet Union had marched into Iran and then overthrew Reza shah’s rule.Iran was under the control of Allies,the political atmosphere in Reza period was totally changed with the termination of Reza’s rule,and Reza’s policies in modernization was also forced to be abolished.Meanwhile,minorities and tribes in Iran revolted in that period.While Iran was under control(1941-46),it suffered separatist movements and tribal rebellions.On the one hand,Qashgai tribe in southern Iran revolted in 1941 and 1946 in the leadership of its chief Aqai Muhammad Nasir.The first time,Qashgai’s rebellion was induced by the Nazi Germany,and it became ‘the Fifth Column’ of the Nazi in wartime.The second time,Britain heavily relied on it in order to contain the rise of communism in Iran.As a result,the rebellions nearly overthrew the rule of Iran government in the southern provinces.In regards to another aspect,the Autonomous Government of Azerbaijan was founded by The Azerbaijan Democratic Party that believed in Marxism in the end of 1945;In the beginning of 1946,Kurdish Republic was founded by Mohammad Qazi—a well known religious leader in Mahabad.Both of regimes were supported by the Soviet Union,and The Red Army also protected them.Anyway,The foundation of the separatist regimes nearly made the rule of Iran government breakdown.However,Iran was not split in the storm of separatism.On the contrary,it survived.Mohammad Pahlavi who took the crown from his father Reza in 1941 suppressed the separatist movements in excellently political and diplomatic skills with the assistance of a number of experienced politicians such as Mansur,Bayat and Qavam.Finally,The troops of Allies evacuated from Iran.And then in the end of 1946,the regimes of Azerbaijan and Kurdistan were overturned as well;Nasir stopped his rebellion and made deals with government in 1943 and 1946 respectively.Tribes,ethnics and external powers,which have been threaten the territorial integrity of Iran,were obstacles in building of modern nation in Iran’s history.From 1941 to 1946,Iran survived from political catastrophes successfully by relying on diplomatic and military skills,and continuing to realize its nation building.