The policy of unifying the dress and the new Iranian official identity in the Arab society of Khuzestan (first Pahlavi era)

Authors

1 Doctoral student of the Department of History, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Shahid Beheshti University

2 Professor of History Department of Shahid Beheshti University

10.22111/jhr.2025.49493.3713

Abstract

During the first Pahlavi period, a policy was implemented to standardize clothing styles throughout Iran in order to establish a new Iranian identity. This policy required specific procedures to be put in place in various regions and for different ethnic groups. The Arab society in Khuzestan was one of the groups impacted by this policy. This research aims to explore how this policy was enforced in the Arab society of Khuzestan, the methods and measures that were utilized, and the response of the ethnic community. The research was carried out using the historical method and official documents. The findings reveal that government agents employed two approaches to enforce and promote this policy. The first approach involved formal education institutions and administrative bodies, while the second approach enlisted the support of the shuyūkh and elites of the Arab society who backed the policy for social status, financial interests, and other reasons. Additionally, the research demonstrates that the Arab society in Khuzestan reacted to this policy by participating in collective disobedience and relocating to Iraq. Moreover, the uniform clothing policy not only failed to further the new identity initiative but also posed a new challenge.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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History

  • Receive Date: 04 June 2024
  • Revise Date: 07 August 2024
  • Accept Date: 05 September 2024

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