Demographic and ethnic structure in Islamshahr and its role in the region's security with an emphasis on ethnic integration

Dissertation for receiving the master degree "M.A". This research, which has been conducted with a review method (documentary-library)

is trying to examine the role of this important factor in the security of the region by examining the demographic and ethnic structure in Islamshahr. Due to its proximity to the country's capital, Tehran, Islamshahr is the third most populous city in Tehran province after Tehran and Varamin. Its consequences in the city are investigated in this research. In addition to the reason for ethnic diversity in Islamshahr, this research deals with the importance of what factors cause the convergence of ethnic groups and it is important that by identifying the factors influencing the integration of ethnic groups and strengthening these factors, we can witness more security in the region, based on which, by reviewing the studies conducted in this field, it has provided practical solutions.

Keywords: convergence of ethnic groups, ethnic diversity, population structure, Islamshahr

Chapter 1

Generalities of the research

Introduction

Iran is a multi-ethnic country and its unity and integrity is due to the coexistence of different ethnic groups, and therefore knowing the social commonalities of the ethnic groups, especially the characteristics that facilitate the convergence of the ethnic groups, is of fundamental importance (Yousefi: 1380: 202). The multiplicity of political-oriented ethnic groups in contemporary societies, due to the differences in nature with the ruling political systems, is a potential source of weakening unity and a threat to the national cohesion of countries. The existence of the hypothesis of ethnicity and, as a result, the idea of ??weakening national security, has become a generalizable hypothesis in the analysis of the relationship between ethnicity and political governance (Afzali and Zarghami, 2018: 77-90). Identifying the bases and factors of convergence and the challenges facing it is one of the important necessities of policy making about national solidarity in any country. In this regard, taking into account that Iran as a country that has regional and cultural diversity within itself, and this matter has been used as a geopolitical tool by regional and extra-regional actors from time to time. This issue is very important in Tehran metropolis and neighboring cities due to the multitude of different ethnic groups living together. One of these areas is Islamshahr, which, due to its proximity to Tehran, has welcomed a large number of people from different ethnicities of Iran to live together. This research aims to investigate the demographic and ethnic structure of Islamshahr and explain its role in security with an emphasis on ethnic diversity.

Statement of the problem

Islamshahr is one of the cities of Tehran province, located in the southwest of Tehran on the Tehran-Saveh communication road, and through the old and new Tehran-Saveh highways, as well as the road, Tehran is connected to the south of the country and other neighboring provinces. Its distance is from the center of Tehran. It is about 15 km. The need to provide services to a relatively large population living in this city and to plan for its cultural, social and economic development caused it to be declared as one of the subordinate cities of Tehran province by the Ministry of Interior of the Islamic Republic of Iran in 1373. Islamshahr dates back to the 5th millennium BC and in ancient times it was a village called Qasimabad Shahi. One of the villages of Islamshahr is Firoz Bahram, whose building is attributed to Firoz Sassanid. During the Qajar era, Islamshahr was the home of the Humayun army and was also called Qasim Abad Khalsa. The existence of the remains of the foundations of the bridge on the Salur River and the hills located nearby or near it and the works buried in them indicate the existence of different historical periods and indicate the importance of this area. Valuable ancient sites that are the same period as the ancient sites of Cheshme Ali, Shahre Ray, Morteza Gard, and Silk Hill, Kashan, such as Mafin Abad Hill, with a history of seven thousand years, have a great reputation in scientific circles and are known as indicators of pre-Islamic civilization in the world. Also, you can compare the ancient hills scattered in the region with the adjacent historical sites in the Great Ray Plain. So far, 12 historical monuments of Islamshahr city have been registered in the list of national monuments of Iran.This area has been of interest for a long time due to the quality and fertility of agricultural lands, the existence of rivers with water and its flowing streams, as well as its proximity to Tehran. The ancient site of Mafin Abad in Islamshahr, which has been damaged due to unauthorized excavations in recent years, has the oldest historical period, which dates back to the fifth millennium BC (Tehran Governorate, 2008). Islamshahr is a connecting highway with the western and southwestern provinces of the country through Tehran-Saveh axis, and from the southern axis it is connected with the railways of Isfahan, Yazd and Kerman provinces on one side and Lorestan and Khuzestan on the other side.   Due to its proximity to Tehran, this city accommodates people from different populations and ethnicities. Islamshahr area as one of the areas of the urban complex plan of Tehran has special characteristics in terms of demographic and physical developments, which generally excludes it from other areas of the capital city. Relatively high acceptance of immigrants to Tehran province, the experience of the highest growth of urbanization in comparison with the country, the expansion of informal settlements and unprincipled physical expansions are only part of its characteristics, which itself causes many problems (Hashmi, 1389: 68).  

Since the issue of ethnic and cultural diversity is closely and directly related to issues and categories such as "national unity and integration" and "national identity" as well as "national security", therefore the characteristic of "diversity and plurality" in Iranian society is like a double-edged sword that can be both an opportunity and a threat. Therefore, it is very important to remember that the issue of ethnicities is never a violation of the idea of ??"unity" or a denial of the principle of "national unity", rather, not addressing such issues or marginalizing them can be a threat to "national unity and unity", but first of all, we must rid our minds of absolutist ideas and attitudes and one-sided views that unfortunately appear prominently in our political literature, especially in dealing with the issue of ethnicities and different cultures. What is important is the politicization of the issue of ethnicities, which includes the politicization of ethnic signs or symbols (language, religion, race, culture), which causes ethnic divisions and their aggravation. Ethnicity and ethnic issues gain political importance mainly because they can become an important source for people's political mobilization and a source for domestic and international conflicts (Akhan Mofard, Hendiani and Zainalnejad, 2017: 403). In the current situation, what has increased the importance of the subject under discussion and given it cross-border, regional and global dimensions. So far, no research related to Islamshahr has been conducted in the country in the field of political geography, and due to the increase in immigration and marginalization in the metropolis of Tehran and neighboring cities such as Islamshahr, the investigation of these issues is of great importance to the security of the region, and considering the population structure and ethnic distribution in Islamshahr, the role of regional security on the convergence of ethnic groups should be studied. This research aims to first address the ethnic-demographic structure of Islamshahr city and finally address its role in regional security and ethnic convergence. 1-3- Importance and necessity of research Ethnic diversity, as a historical and political reality, is always linked with the political geography of Iran, and Iran is among the top ten countries in the world in terms of linguistic and ethnic diversity (Qudsi, 2009: 25). The presence and life of different Persian, Turkic, Kurdish, Ler, Baluch, Turkmen and Arab ethnicities next to each other and in a single geographical and political framework shows the ethnic and cultural diversity of Iranian society. Paying attention to ethnic groups and ethnic characteristics, along with their deterrent role against the enemy, has always been the focus of the authorities as a defense policy, after the sacred defense. Each tribe can assume responsibilities and roles according to its geographical region and location, but the position of the tribes in terms of the type of relationship with the government, their belief about the current or future situation in Iran, the type of interaction (in the border areas) with the neighbors and so on. It is one of the points that determine various functions in terms of responsibility.