Radio and Iran’s Foreign Policy in the Civilizational Sphere with Emphasis on South Asia (1941-1979)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Associate Professor of Political Sciences, Political Sciences Department, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran

2 MA. in History, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran. Iran

10.22099/ijas.2024.50810.1008

Abstract

Radio is an important medium in relations between countries and an instrument for public diplomacy. The main question is what were the Second Pahlavi’s purposes in using this communication instrument and how was it used in foreign policy with countries in its civilizational and cultural sphere, especially India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the USSR (Turkmenistan). The main hypothesis of this article is that the Pahlavi monarchy didn’t define its influential instruments only in the military realm. Instead, it recognized the importance of cultural and propaganda influence, considering Iran’s heritage in culture, art, music, and the Persian language. Policymakers insisted on a combination of the ideology of ancient nationalism and westernization, emphasizing the Pahlavi monarchy, the expansion of the Persian language, and Shiite religion through music, as well as efforts to neutralize neighbors’ propaganda. Research findings indicate that after the establishment of radio in 1940, one of Iran's important objectives was to broadcast in different languages in neighboring countries for Iranian immigrants. Simultaneously, the Pahlavi monarchy tried to expand its cultural influence in the Indian subcontinent and maintain peaceful relations with South Asian countries. The present study provides a different narrative of Iran’s foreign relations through the analysis of radio programs (Radio Mashhad, Gorgan, Zahedan).

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References

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Iranian Journal of Asian Studies
Volume 1, Issue 1 - Serial Number 1
October 2024
Pages 99-126

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