On the borders of the Turkish and Iranian nation-states: the story of Ferzende and Besra

Demographic Engineering and Population Alteration in Iranian Kurdistan

“…Reza Shah and Ataturk, as the founders of the Iranian and the modern Turkish states, in an attempt to achieving their ambition of a strong and centralized nation-state, deployed a variety of exclusionary policies of homogenization and integration. According to Metin Yüksel (2016), these happened because “nation and nation-state building projects require a wide array of social, political and military operations such as assimilation, the exchange and settlement of population and ideological indoctrination” (p. 656). In this regard, both Reza Shah and Ataturk believed that modern nation-state building in Turkey and Iran “would require a low degree of cultural diversity and a high degree of ethnic homogeneity” (Yüksel, 2016, p. 658).…”

“…According to Metin Yüksel (2016), these happened because “nation and nation-state building projects require a wide array of social, political and military operations such as assimilation, the exchange and settlement of population and ideological indoctrination” (p. 656). In this regard, both Reza Shah and Ataturk believed that modern nation-state building in Turkey and Iran “would require a low degree of cultural diversity and a high degree of ethnic homogeneity” (Yüksel, 2016, p. 658). Despite the existence of massive differences in the ethnographic compositions of these countries and differences in these states relations to their Kurdish subordinate, Reza Shah and Ataturk applied similar means of elimination or neutralization of the Kurdish population (Yüksel, 2016, pp.…”

“…In this regard, both Reza Shah and Ataturk believed that modern nation-state building in Turkey and Iran “would require a low degree of cultural diversity and a high degree of ethnic homogeneity” (Yüksel, 2016, p. 658). Despite the existence of massive differences in the ethnographic compositions of these countries and differences in these states relations to their Kurdish subordinate, Reza Shah and Ataturk applied similar means of elimination or neutralization of the Kurdish population (Yüksel, 2016, pp. 656–658).…”

“…For example, the Mount Ararat Revolt (1927–1930) in Turkish Kurdistan was defeated following Turkish and Iranian army’s joint military operation against the uprising. There are many reasons linked to this, and similar cooperation between Turkey and Iran was seen in “adjusting the border to make the policing of the territory easier for each state has been among some of this cooperation” (Yüksel, 2016, pp. 657–658).…”

“…657–658). “The jointly pursued operations of the Turkish and Iranian nation-states on Mount Ararat against the Kurds and the resulting settlement of the question of border in 1932 can thus be aptly located in the context of their nation and nation-state building projects aiming to make the Kurdish population legible” (Yüksel, 2016, p. 657).…”