The Steps of Development and Evolution of the Concept of Nationalism in Iranian Identity; From the Beginning of the 13th Century AH until the Martyrdom of General Soleimani

Nationalism is a modern concept arising from the identity transformations of the Western world. This new layer of identity gradually dominated the identity of the colonized countries, on the one hand, along with the development of the colonialism of the western countries and, on the other hand, with the development of western knowledge. Weak political systems and imitative pseudo-intellectuals were also very effective in accepting this new identity in an imitative and imposed pattern. However, with the passage of time and Iranian society's encounter with this new layer of identity, we have seen the active engagement and hosting of Iranian identity foundations towards nationalism, and during this development and evolution, nationalism was redefined in the local frameworks of Iranians. This redefinition started from the beginning of the 13th century and continued until after the Islamic Revolution in Iran. The current research, based on its independent theoretical framework, believes that Iranian identity has three layers of Iranianness, Islamism, and revolutionism. These layers have gradually been balanced and were able to build local nationalism. This research shows martyr Soleimani as an example of this identity balance, who was both Iranian and Muslim and also revolutionary. For this purpose, this qualitative research based on a historical study approach has investigated and studied the identity development and evolution during the last century.