Iranian Politics and Law Quarterly

Iranian Politics and Law Quarterly

The Spirit of the Iranian Nation: Dynamics and Permanence throughout History

Document Type : Original Article

Author
Postdoctoral fellow at the University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
Beyond being a mere state apparatus, Iran has been an idea—a national spirit that has evolved through the annals of history. While certain facets have undergone transformation and new layers have been added, at its deepest core it has evinced a staggering continuity. From ancient times to the contemporary era, the idea of Iran possessed political and cultural essence, serving as a repository of meanings, symbols, and institutions that shape the national identity of Iranians—a historical nation typically conscious of its relationship with space (land), time (national history), others (non-Iranians), and the cosmos (divinity). Here, we explore this idea as an imaginary institution, endeavoring to illustrate the historical continuity of Iranian identity as a national community across ancient and medieval eras by tracing the trajectory of this imaginary phenomenon within Iranian consciousness.
Keywords
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