IRAN AND ITS NATIONALITIES: THE CASE OF BALUCH NATIONALISM

The question of ethnic nationalities divided by international boundaries poses one of the potentially most explosive problems facing the multi-national developing states. It involves two political forces moving in opposing directions. On the one hand, each multi-ethnic state is driven to integrate its diverse nationalities into its state structure. On the other hand, there is the nationalist drive of divided nationalities seeking self-rule in their national homelands. In Iran, all non-Persian nationalities--Baluchis, Kurds, Turks, Turkmens, and Arabs--belong to the category of nationalities divided across state lines. Baluchis, whose homeland, Baluchistan, covers 240,000 square miles, are divided among Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. This study examines the Baluch national movement toward political, economic, and cultural self-rule in Western Baluchistan since its incorporation into Iran in 1928. Drawing on historical materials in English, Persian, Baluchi, Arabic, and Urdu, the study analyzes three sets of interrelated factors. The first set relates to the evolution and dynamics of Baluch nationalism, its cohesive bases, its socio-economic and class structure, its politics and political organizations, and its personalities. The second set deals with the pattern of relationships between the Baluch nationality and the Persian-dominated state of Iran. The third set pertains to the regional and international implications of Baluch nationalism. This study's findings suggest that the nationalism of the Baluch and other subordinate nationalities in Iran is the antithesis to the politically and economically dominant and exploitative nationalism of the dominant nationality, a pattern similar to the rise of the early nationalism of Third World peoples as a response to European colonialism. This general thesis, however, is based primarily on the cases of the Middle-Eastern nationalities discussed in connection with our case of study. Any broader application of this conclusion, however, should await the results of additional case studies of ethnic nationalities in other geographic areas of the Third World as well.