Əlirza Quluncu (Alirza Quluncu) - July 24, 2013
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| Artum Dinc |
In an interview with Voice of America, Artum Dinc, a sociologist and doctoral student in the sociology department at Ankara University, discussed the reasons why some members of assimilated communities engage in activities against their own language and culture and the sociological and socio-psychological meanings and functions of the commonly used term "mankurt" in Iranian Azerbaijan.
Artum Dinc draws attention to the pivotal role of Chinghiz Aitmatov's book 'Gün var əsrə bərabər' (The Day Lasts More than a Hundred Years) in the resurgence of the term 'manqurt' in Iranian Azerbaijani political circles. This has sparked renewed discussions around the process of 'mankurtization' as a means of conditioning individuals' feelings, thoughts, and behaviors to foster obedient personalities.
Artum Dinc provides a comprehensive historical context, tracing the systematic and institutional application of the method of 'mankurtization' in Iran since 1926. This systematic process of 'self-alienation' and 'Persianization' towards non-Persian groups has led to a transition from cultural, linguistic, and regional diversity to the dominance of Persianization and homogenization in the nation-state formation process. He highlights the desire for control and hegemony achieved through these institutionalized methods.
Artum Dinc believes that success in Iranian society involves promoting "Persianization," a system that encourages citizens to internalize the dominant culture and language and abandon their minoritized cultural and linguistic practices. He highlights how behaviors and identities are shaped through conditioning involving rewards and punishments.
Artum Dinc suggests nurturing critical individuals over obedient ones and promoting critical cultural consciousness, which can serve as resistance against pan-Iranist nationalism's linguistic, national, and cultural homogenizing policies and offer hope for change and transformation.
The original source: https://www.amerikaninsesi.org/a/1708694.html