Linguistic approach to the problem of inefficiency of nationalism in the first Pahlavi period (1320-1299)

Political systems are confronted with various nationalisms, sometimes rejecting it as a divisive factor in a multicultural society, and sometimes using it as a common language to create social unity and cohesion. The latter application can be seen in Reza Shah's ethnic and nationalist policies, which in practice faced fundamental challenges. This article seeks to examine and evaluate the issue of failure and inefficiency of nationalism in the first Pahlavi period in a new approach and using the methodical possibilities of language game theory. The main question is why, despite the efforts of the government and the elites to popularize the language of nationalism, during the crisis and foreign intervention in Iran; This language did not have the necessary efficiency and the feeling of patriotism and martyrdom of the Iranian nation, which was claimed by this language, was not activated in the face of foreign forces and the exile of Reza Shah? Qualitative analysis of the available data based on the indicators of language game theory showed that the privatization of the language of nationalism in Iran during Reza Shah's time, led to its inefficiency. Private or imaginary nationalism, in other words, romanticism of this period, despite many efforts to make it public, remained confined only to modernist intellectuals, the Shah and his court, and due to its incompatibility with the way of life of Iranian society, had no roots in religious and cultural belief. Its grammar is full of anti-religious and anti-Islamic rules; Led to failure and inefficiency.