Historical and Cultural Foundations of the Ideological Confrontation Between the Concepts of Greater Iran and Great Turan in the South Caucasus
Abstract
The article explores the historical and cultural foundations of the ideological rivalry between Greater Iran and Great Turan and their influence on Iran and Türkiye’s foreign policies in the South Caucasus. Due to the limitations of a scholarly article’s format, the study focuses on the key historical milestones of the millennial evolution of the given concepts rather than claims to provide a comprehensive coverage of the process in question. Based on historical, network, and comparative analysis alongside constructivist approaches, the study explores cultural and religious differences as factors in the confrontation considered and the historical dynamics of Iran-Türkiye wars. Special attention is given to the instrumentalization of Pan-Iranism and Pan-Turkism, as well as the region’s strategic importance. Iran-Türkiye wars as part of the rivalry between the two countries are analyzed through network analysis, with the South Caucasus as a central node, characterized by high centrality and density of conflicts. Local and global clustering coefficients show the interconnectedness of conflict zones and a triangular area of competition. A comparative analysis of the concepts of Greater Iran and Great Turan reveals differences in the ideological and strategic approaches of Iran and Türkiye to regional dominance. The concepts of Greater Iran and Great Turan do not resemble official strategic documents, yet they serve as the ideological reasoning behind Iran’s and Türkiye’s foreign policy priorities in the South Caucasus. Iran relies on cultural and civilizational heritage, while Türkiye pursues a more politicized strategy focused on ethnic unity. The confrontation is further intensified by religious differences and conflicting economic interests. The findings emphasize that the contemporary rivalry between Iran and Türkiye in the South Caucasus continues historical trends and remains relevant for both states in terms of ideology, national security, and economic interests.
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Polyakova A. Historical and Cultural Foundations of the Ideological Confrontation Between the Concepts of Greater Iran and Great Turan in the South Caucasus. International Aspect. 2024;5(4):70-101.
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