Investigating the situation of divergence and convergence of ethnic and religious minorities in the country (Kurdish and Baloch areas)

The issue of ethnic and religious pluralism in all countries has been and is one of the main concerns of politicians, and it is extremely important and sensitive when it comes to national security. But ethnic divisions can always potentially be the source of transient tensions or the formation of divergent tensions with long-term consequences for national security. Accordingly, the present study aims to investigate the impact of ethnic and religious divisions on the national security of the Islamic Republic of Iran (with emphasis on the Kurdish and Baluch peoples). The research is descriptive-analytical with a combination of documentary and survey methods. The data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire that its validity is measured by experts’ opinions and reliability is measured through Cronbach's alpha. Descriptive and inferential statistics (using Spss software) as well as swot analysis method were used to analyze the data. It also seems that the prospect of ethnic and religious divisions in the Kurdish and Baloch areas remains stable in terms of security and, as a cultural puzzle in Iran's pluralistic society and maintains the current situation. At this point, the government's efforts to contain the crisis and protect the country's national interests and security are vital.