Language as the Core of Power: Official and Non-Official Languages

Hedayat Soltanzadeh - February 23, 2013

Hedayat Sultanzadeh

Hedayat Sultanzadeh explores the role of language as a central element of power in society, drawing on myths from Greek and Hebrew traditions. He argues that while the Greek myth highlights fire as a source of human strength, the Hebrew narrative emphasizes language as a fundamental force that shapes human relationships and social structures. Language serves as a vessel for encoding class, gender, and racial conflicts, influencing power dynamics within multilingual societies, particularly in nationalism and state politics. The article posits that a language's official status often reflects and reinforces the power of the dominant social group. For further details, you can read the full article here.

On the Reasons Behind Political and Cultural Violence Against Nationalities in Iran

Hedayat Soltanzadeh - January 9, 2011

1. To address the issue of political violence against nationalities and their cultural oppression—such as depriving them of education in their mother tongue or other forms of violence—we need to take the concept of violence out of its abstract form and ground it in reality to understand its nature and reasoning. The best approach to diagnosing the causes of violence against nationalities is to first examine the anatomy of the concept of violence itself and then to look into the specific reasons for enacting violence against these groups. When violence is analyzed merely in an abstract manner, its reasoning and essence remain concealed, leading some to attribute it solely to factors like ideology, revolution, or the use of arms. Following this logic, the absence of ideology, preference for peaceful and legal methods, and opposition to any revolution may be seen as a means to counter violence.

Democracy and the Right to Self-Determination

Hedayat Soltanzadeh - September 10, 2010

What is the relationship between democracy and the right to self-determination? Are democracy and the right to self-determination two entirely separate concepts, or do they have an organic relationship where one loses its meaning without the other? In a logical abstraction, these two ideas can be distinguished; however, reflection on them will reveal the profound connection between these two terms, as both concepts relate to the sovereignty of the people. The former delineates a model of political governance and the manner of administering the state, wherein the people are the primary actors in its conventional sense. It also indicates the existence of political and civil liberties and the rule of law within society. The latter emphasizes the legitimacy, authority, and sovereignty of the people and the ways this right is manifested. The exercise of people's sovereignty is impossible without their control over the political apparatus, which can only be realized through a democracy-based government. The right to self-determination essentially signifies a social unit's right to govern its social and political life. In the context of a nation within a territory, this occurs through the nation-state framework, while in a multinational territory, it is expressed through the collective participation of various groups in managing this political and social life, which practically necessitates either utilizing federative tools or splitting into separate nation-states.

Speech by Hedayat Soltanzadeh at the Brussels Conference, European Parliament, April 1-2, 2009

Ladies and gentlemen,

As a representative of the Azerbaijani Federal Democratic Movement, I would like to express my gratitude to the organizers of this conference for providing me the opportunity to speak on behalf of South Azerbaijanis, the largest nationality without political and cultural rights in Iran. The population of South Azerbaijanis is more than three times that of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the north, and our magnitude in terms of political activists and scientific cadres is paramount compared to that of Persians.

Azerbaijanis have always been at the forefront of all democratic upheavals in modern times. Relying on this tradition and legacy, we are currently working to pool our efforts for democratic change for all nationalities in Iran.

Language, Ideology, and National Identity

Hedayat Soltanzadeh - July 28, 2005

Hedayat Soltanzadeh

In this article, Hedayat Soltanzadeh examines the connections between language politics, ideology, and national identity, focusing on their cultural, political, social, and economic implications. It analyzes how linguistic choices shape collective identities and influence power dynamics. By exploring historical narratives and cultural practices, the piece underscores the importance of language policies in the struggle for recognition and rights among ethnic minorities. Readers are invited to consider the critical role of linguistic diversity as a foundation for justice, equity, and socio-economic and political opportunity in society.

Why Federalism and Why Now?

Hedayet Soltanzadeh - February 18, 2005

Hedayet Soltanzadeh

Introduction:

Iran is on the brink of a significant historical shift. In this not-so-promising political landscape, where a totalitarian political system based on a rigid religious ideology has taken the people of a country of nearly 70 million hostage, the fate of the nation is gambled for the sake of maintaining the discredited existence of a small sect, especially when calamity lurks from all sides.

In today’s Iran, we can observe the absence of two significant political elements: 1) the absence of mass political parties, and 2) the absence of a political model for a multinational country.