History of the Modern Middle East / Module 13
Nationalism & Nation States in the Middle East
Nation-state formation is studied through Iran and Turkey after World War I. The lesson emphasizes nationalism, state-building, and the role of the military.
Learning objectives
- Compare Iranian and Turkish nationalism after World War I.
- Examine the role of the military in postwar nation-state formation.
Transcript excerpt
Excerpt from the lesson transcript
Iran and Turkey are the best examples of this development of unified nation-states in the post-World War I era. With intense local nationalism, Turkish nationalism, Iranian nationalism, not pan-Ottomanism, but rather Turkish nationalism, takes the place of earlier forms of identity, earlier forms of affiliation. In both of these states, the military plays a very big role.