&quot;Racism or ethnology&quot;: An examination of the issue of race in the intellectual world of Iranians based on the views expressed in Iranian publications

Karimi, Amir

doi:10.30465/scs.2025.53111.3066

"Racism or ethnology": An examination of the issue of race in the intellectual world of Iranians based on the views expressed in Iranian publications

Articles in Press

Document Type : .

Author

Amir Karimi

PhD candidate, Department of History, Faculty of Law and Social Sciences, University of Tabriz, East Azarbaijan, Iran, P.O. Box: 5166616471; and Member of History Education Core, Farhangian University, Alborz campus, P.O. Box 14665-889, Tehran, Iran.

10.30465/scs.2025.53111.3066

Abstract

This research examines and analyzes the issue of race in the intellectual world of Iranians from the perspective of views published in Iranian publications during the Pahlavi period and between 1925 and 1978. This period witnessed important social, political, and cultural developments in Iran that had profound effects on public attitudes and beliefs towards race and national identity. By studying the publications of this period, the research identifies and explains how racial views were formed and evolved in Iranian society and their effects on social and cultural relations. The findings show that 1) racism and ethnology are two different concepts, each of which has profound effects on society. 2) Race as a biological concept is influenced by historical and social factors and cannot be defined solely on the basis of external characteristics. 3) Also, urgenetics, as a new science, studied hereditary characteristics during the Pahlavi period and created hope for the improvement of generations. 4) In fact, the publications did not seek to promote race in public forums, but rather, ethnography was the basis of their reflections.

Keywords

Contemporary Iranian history

Pahlavi period

racism

ethnology

Iranian intellectual world

press

Subjects