Abstract:
In this article, the author suppo1es that Iran and Turkey sharecharacteristics historically and socially more than any other two countries In the Middle East. This arises rrom the Turks' mlaratlon to Iran and Iranians' emigration to Aila Minor In the past periods. Despite this proximity, the difference In religion and languaae In the two countries have caused some dlsaareements between them which continue to unfold. The author maintains that Inclination to secularl1m In Turkey results from the Turks' objective outlook to the world, whereas Iranians have persistently approached the world rrom a metaphysical and mystical penpectlve. The proximity or the two countries has caused them to aff~ct each other In the process or modernization under Reza Shah and Ataturk. The author examines the Impact or modernization and subsequent crises In Iran and Turkey and concludes that the establishment ofrellglous system In the Islamic Republic of Iran has put an end to certain crises or development, but the Identity crisis Is stlll critical In Turkey. To theauthor, the roles Turkey and Iran play In the Middle East resemble . those or France and Germany In the European intearatlon. On the other side, coordination and cooperation between Iran and Turkey will demand the mutual recognition or historical, cultural and political roles or both countries and avoidance of proposingcontroversial issues.
Machine summary:
On the other side, coordination and cooperation between Iran and Turkey will demand the mutual recognition or historical, cultural and political roles or both countries and avoidance of proposingcontroversial issues.
That is to say that while stressing on religion, all mechanisms of modernity including elections, political parties and so on are utilized, and at the same time a special attention is inevitably paid to the Iranian identity,'!' The adoption of religious path in Iran and of secular trajectory in Turkey, in the author's view, originates from their own particular outlooks.
However, contrary to what was initially expected, neither the Iranian Constitutional Revolution nor the Young Turks Revolution led to the emergence of a modern state, and no opening in political space and transition to democracy appeared.
The enhancement of civil society in Iran caused several revolutions or pseudo-revolutions like the Nationalization of Oil Industry Movement and the uprising of June S, 1963, whereas the process of state-building passed a more certain way in Turkey and could manage to prevent the occurrence of such revolutions.
In this time, Mohammad Ali Foroughi, who was among the intellectuals coming from the Iranian Constitutional Revolution and Iran's then ambassador to Turkey, began teaching lessons in history to Ataturk.
The modern political life in Turkey witnessed continuity and evolution, while personalization of power led the Iranian society to the revolution.
The history of political development in Iran and Turkey reveals that these two societies have been seriously involved in the phenomenon of Western modernity and have attempted differing ways to adopt the Western civilization.