چکیده:
Iranian myths have left imprints on Iran’s political and international vision throughout history. Using a constructivist approach, I try to demonstrate that these myths have had functional significance as meaning constructs to form and shape Iranian identity and Iranians’ international attitude. These myths have been also relevant when the Iranian people presented definitions for themselves, others and the outer world. It is, however, evident that other meaning constructs like history, religion, traditions and language have had roles to play in formation of Iranian identity. All such meaning constructs are in a constant connection with each other and all together shape Iranian identity. That said, the primary question of the present research is، what isthe role and function of Iranian myths in delineation of Iranians’ identity and their attitudes towards the international system?. In response, I hypothesize that, Iranian myths, as important common meaning constructs in the Iranian mindset, have contributed to the formation of national identity and Iranian international attitude by drawing Iran’s territorial boundaries, expression of Iranian collective particularities and defining of Iranian society’s functions as a nation-state. To test this hypothesis the concepts related to Iranian myths and the mythic functions during different historical eras are studied.
خلاصه ماشینی:
Using a constructivist approach, I try to demonstrate that these myths have had functional significance as meaning constructs to form and shape Iranian identity and Iranians’ international attitude.
In response, I hypothesize that, Iranian myths, as important common meaning constructs in the Iranian mindset, have contributed to the formation of national identity and Iranian international attitude by drawing Iran’s territorial boundaries, expression of Iranian collective particularities and defining of Iranian society’s functions as a nation-state.
In response, I hypothesize that: Iranian myths as important common meaning constructs in the Iranian mindset have contributed to the formation of national identity and Iranian international attitude by drawing Iran’s territorial boundaries, expression of Iranian collective particularities and defining Iranian society as a nation-state.
Therefore myths, as having fundamental meanings about the universe’s creation and explanation of creatures, the origin of the world and its final demise are regarded as important intersubjective constructs that affect national identity and foreign behaviors of states.
With respect to the Iranian identity, it should be taken into account that it is comprised of diverse factors and elements including territorial boundaries, religious ideas, Persian language, common history of the population living inside its boundaries, myths, epics, rituals and national celebrations like Nowruz.
In this way, an Iranian identity can be traced throughout three thousand years of Iran’s history that has survived against changes in the populations, boundaries and historical frictions, in form people’s loyalty to Iran as a concept, their collective participation in defending the bounders when invaded by foreign forces, commitment to its traditions, national ceremonies and mourning and usage of a common language.