Ethnic Conflicts : Iran Ethnic Conflict

I have been wanting to broaden my knowledge and experiences beyond Latin America and Azerbaijan presents the type of non-Euro centric opportunity I desire. During my graduate studies, I am focusing on post-Soviet countries and Azerbaijan to present a fascinating case study. The country and its people have flourished compared to other former-Soviet states, with Baku developing into a world-class city. Azerbaijani is also spoken in Iran and Dagestan, and I want to learn more about these countries and how the language shapes their citizens’ lives.

The reformation of the country of Iran toward Islam caused turmoil among the people because the drastic changes forced on the people were not easily accepted. One of the major changes is that

Sectarian violence in the west was influenced by people that believed that there way of living was the only way to live. They shaped some parts of the west by causing problems with other people and religious people by intimidating them to not move there and killing and causing wars like they did with the massacre of bear river. The Mormons believed in one way of life, they tried to control the Native Americans and their rights to try and move and start new from where they once was. The Native Americans were treated poorly due to the fact they were different from others. They lived a different lifestyle and believed in a different type of religion from everyone else. Because they were different and was wanting to move away from Missouri to

Chris Hyler PSC 123 Professor Sezgin (TA: Li Shao) 11/29/2014 The collapses of the Iranian monarchy and the Soviet Union resulted in the establishment of two of the world’s most prominent nations. The similarities between the two nations can be seen in multiple areas. First, historically both nations were at one time under the rule of totalitarian regimes.

The Sunni and Shiite branches of Islam have been feuding for hundreds of years dating back to the beginning of the Islamic religion. The deity or god of the Sunnis is Allah. The Sunni branch of Islam is the larger of the two branches with over 80% of the Muslim population. The Sunni are the majority in most of the countries that have Islamic followers. There are a few different translations of what Sunna stands for, one of which is “Habitual Practice.” The differences between the two branches can be traced all the back to the 7th century CE when the disagreements as to who should succeed Muhammad. Sunnis believe that the Muslim community should maintain the right to select who the successor to Muhammad is going to be. The Shiite branch

The entire war on terror in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, and across the world is between secular governments and fundamentalist Islamic rebels.

It was a bright and sunny day in the streets of Tehran, where my father would walk along side by side with the love of his life. He was dressed like any gentleman in the blistering summer’s heat would, but the real sight to him was his girlfriend. She was wearing a bright colored dress and her hair was swaying with the cool wind. They felt vigorous and young to be able to show their affection so freely. Despite that, times have changed in Iran and to practice that type of freedom would result in brutal consequences from the government. At first glance, one would say modern day Iran juxtaposes the United States. However, that was not always the case. According to my informant, my father, Iran was once a country very much like the United States

Syria is currently all over the news regarding what many have to come to see as a civil war. A term like civil war needs to identify the players and the reasons for the war. In this case the players are being identified as pro government or antigovernment with a Sunni or Shia overtone. Sunni and Shia are the two major sects of Islam and both have a historical based conflict going back to the death of the Prophet Muhammad and how Muslims should be governed. This conflict has caused tensions and violence to flare up throughout Islamic history. This conflict has carried into modern times and has becoming a rallying point for Muslim people calling for change with their government and across the Middle Eastern region. The

In history, there have been different types of belief systems, some polytheistic, some monotheistic. These belief systems either showed to rise in power and stayed there or plummet quickly, all these belief systems had some type of law and/or order, whether codified or not. Islam is the largest religion in the world, with over one billion followers. Islam means "surrender" and Muslim means "anyone or anything that surrenders itself to the true will of God". Islam is a monotheistic religion, although, it can be also consider polytheistic, just all those gods connected to one god.

Conflict between and within nations is proven by history to be expected, but the answer to which countries are at a higher risk for conflict depends on whom you are asking. The reading “Ethnicity, Insurgency and Civil War” by James D. Fearon and David D. Laitin, argues that the conditions that favour insurgency are better predictors of which countries are at risk for internal conflict. Determining which countries are at a higher risk depends on multiple logical factors for the perfect environment for rebellion to occur. These factors are based on the political, economic, and organization of the state in question. Fearon and Laitin dissect the formula for rebellion piece by piece over the course of the entire article. By the end it left me in

This was one reverse too far, for Iran's young “cherish a packet of grievances, ranging from the acute shortage of jobs to the social restrictions that ban most boy- and-girl outings. Restrictive though it is, the system allows discussion of these complaints, and many niggling rules have been quietly eased since Mr. Khatami took over” (Anonymous Iran's second revolution? 13). It was, however, after the police and their allies, the Islamist bully-boy militia, raided the dormitories in Tehran University, where they killed at least one student and probably more, that the shout for change began to penetrate “out-of-bounds areas. The students started to call for fundamental reforms, questioning the legitimacy of clerical control” (Anonymous Iran's second revolution? 13). They even went so far as to challenge the sacrosanct heart of Iran's Islamist edifice, the ultimate authority of the “supreme leader.”

Iranians deeply value their social and cultural traditions. The Persian revolution formed the basis through which the country evolved and foundation upon which its empires were established. The Islamic regime practiced by the country formed the basis through which the country’s sophisticated institutions were built. Shah seemed to champion for secularization and westernization (Axworthy,

We are surrounded by many religions and their way of thinking and teaching that contributes to bring peace to the world. Even though, meaning of Islam is total submission to G-d and to follow his will, Islam is divided into two groups, Shia, Sunni and their view of the religion Islam. The blood shadings between Shia and Sunni in the history of Islamic interfaith differences have affected future generations, since the death of Prophet Muhammad in A.D. 632, which have affected educational and social opportunity for future generations. So, dose believing in will of G-d bring peace or death, hate or hormone? What is the mission of Islamic groups who call themselves Sunnis and Shias, to bring peace to the world or work against the universal believes that everyone is created equal and must be treated like a human being.

Ethnic conflicts are well rooted in the world's history and perhaps inherent in human nature. This type of conflict is difficult to resolve as is evident in the situation in the Middle East. The ethnic conflict theory explains that it is not territory, politics, or economics that prevents the achievement of peace between the Israeli and Palestinian peoples, instead, it is a deep-seated hatred of one another that neither group can overcome. The Camp David Summit in July 2000, the most recent attempt at fostering a lasting peace is a clear example of how ethnocentrism can prevents success.

were chosen by God to set up a state of Israel where they could not be