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Identity and Border Relations between Iraq and Iran in the 20th Century: The Cases of Khuzestan and Shatt al-Arab

Ruffner, Todd W.

Abstract Details

2010, Master of Arts, Ohio State University, Near Eastern Languages and Cultures.
Throughout the 20th century, various constructs of clashing identities, including Arab-Persian, Shiite-Sunni, religious-secular, and Iraqi-Iranian dichotomies played a role in escalating bilateral friction between Iraq and Iran. When war broke out between the two countries in late 1980, these conflicts of identity seemed to be among the key factors contributing to the eruption of violence. Additionally, Saddam Hussein’s decision to invade Iran was the culmination of both ancient and contemporary antagonism surrounding territorial, ethnic, strategic, and political issues. Khuzestan and Shatt al-cArab each hold indisputable economic and strategic significance; due principally to Khuzestan’s massive oil reserves and port access, as well as Shatt al-cArab’s shipping capacity and water resources. This thesis intends to examine the 20th century events involving the Khuzestan and Shatt al-cArab disputes and the way that subsequent Iraqi and Iranian regimes shaped cultural identity to advance their political interests in each conflict. This thesis contends that the successive regimes in both Iraq and Iran attempted to shape and manipulate the identity of their respective countries in order to better serve their interests in the conflicts surrounding Khuzestan and Shatt al-cArab. By establishing the link between politics and culture, one may determine that using cultural identity to garner support for political matters was indeed a significant factor in the case of Khuzestan and Shatt al-cArab during the 20th century.
Georges Tamer (Advisor)
Joseph Zeidan (Committee Member)
118 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Ruffner, T. W. (2010). Identity and Border Relations between Iraq and Iran in the 20th Century: The Cases of Khuzestan and Shatt al-Arab [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1274891695

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Ruffner, Todd. Identity and Border Relations between Iraq and Iran in the 20th Century: The Cases of Khuzestan and Shatt al-Arab. 2010. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1274891695.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Ruffner, Todd. "Identity and Border Relations between Iraq and Iran in the 20th Century: The Cases of Khuzestan and Shatt al-Arab." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2010. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1274891695

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)