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| Artum Dinc |
In a conversation with Voice of America, sociologist Artum Dinc discussed imperialism and post-colonial studies. He commented on the policies implemented and propagated by colonial powers in modern history. He shared his thoughts on the evolution of national identity and the terminology used in this direction. Artum Dinc evaluated how similar mechanisms operate on Turks in South [Azerbaijan] and other regions of Iran.
Artum Dinc defines post-colonial studies as a vast and diverse field of research and investigation. It encompasses a multitude of disciplines, including anthropology, field studies, cultural studies, sociology, politics, economics, geography, history, international relations, linguistics, gender studies, literature, and academic activities such as Marxist left-wing political theories. This interdisciplinary nature is associated with the complexity and richness of the subject matter.
According to Dinc, the colonial mentality is divisive and presupposes the existence of a hierarchy in all ethnic-cultural units or between groups, presenting some groups as superior races.
The sociologist draws attention to how the colonial identity policy works on Turks in Iranian Azerbaijan and other regions of the country:
"When someone in Iran identifies themselves as a 'Turk,' I'm not referring to Persians. However, the Persian supremacist imagination looks down on them and tells them, 'You're not a Turk; you're an Azeri.' Turks have not yet become 'Iranian' or 'Persianized' here, and they appear to be a threat. This is wrong and a superficial view."
The researcher also touches on the relationship between identity policy and power:
"If a person there simply says, 'I am a Turk,' the matter should end there. Conversations such as 'you are not a Turk' and 'this is not your history' are outdated."
Artum Dinc argues that combating oppressive identity formation imposed on the Turkish community in Iranian Azerbaijan is crucial, emphasizing the necessity of creating counter-hegemonic cultural spaces and movements, along with forming public discourses, to address this issue.
Link to the original text: https://www.amerikaninsesi.org/a/artum-dinc-kolonializm-milli-kimlik/2888010.html