I too find this analysis helpful.

Re. India: northern India in particular is riven with ethnic conflict. The Indian government suppressed all media access to the Northeast for decades in order to give free reign to its troops in suppressing indigenous efforts by Nagas and others to gain independence. The stories of human rights abuse are outrageous.

The world of the last century has been constructed around the concept of nation states, yet this construct is only a few generations old.

I would like to read comments about the implications of recognizing the pull of tribal impulses and the limitations of the nation-state as an organizing construct. How would we do conflict resolution differently if we took this analysis seriously? How would diplomats function differently if they took this seriously? What mechanisms/processes ought we be creating to work within this reality?
Ron Kraybill, www.RiverhouseEpress.com

Excellent.
As the world is getting smaller, more talk and less confrontation is very much necessary.

Kurd,
As an Iranian (first) and as an AZARI( mutually first), I do not agree with your statement of: "Iran is a multi-national state, but all major policies are controlled by Persians and Kurd, Arab, Azeri, Baluch and other tribes/nation as have not been taken in to consultation and never been onboard on major state policies"

In contrast to your views, I see my ethnic background of Azari /Azeri and my Iranian nationality are very much intertwined. I believe that my Azeri language and rituals are as much respected as your proud Kurdish heritage and language in Iran; as well as Gilaki/Mazandarani, Lurs, Baluchis, Arab and Turkomans.

Iran is a multi-national state, but all major policies are controlled by Persians and Kurd, Arab, Azeri, Baluch and other tribes/nationas have not been taken in to consultation and never been onboard on major state policies. We can not blame innocent and less powerful tribes for violance, they are fighting for their political economical rights. Let the oppressed Kurd, Arab and Baluch tribes to unite with their brothers accross borders and develop a concensus and stratagy to moderenize and advance in 21st century.
Overcentralized Theran is cause of violance not small and decentralize tribes are creating violance and problem in the region.

I agree with Mr. Ettefagh. Very well written commentary. In response to the comment made by Sarkis, India's so called "success" has just come in the past five years due to the tech boom and lots of help from forieng powers in the fields of space and nuclear technology. And this came after 50 years. So their continued "success" cannot be evaluated for another 5-10 years when it can be established that they are truly successful on a continuous time scale.

If I presume to reply for Mr Ettefagh, I would answer Sarkis' question by noting that India has not been particularly stable, with many incidents of foreign and domestic terrorism, a serious challenge is some regions by Maoists, and 2 prime ministers killed by disgruntled ethnic minorities. All that said, India is similiar to Iran, Egypt, and Greece in having had a long history of ethnically inclusive politics. That's probably what's kept it together.

Excellent commentary, Doctor.

There are those who believe this thinking, applied among all nations in the region, is the answer for peace in the Middle East.

Think inclusively and communicate.

www.everyoneisincluded.us

Strong tribal loyalties often run up
against state laws. No matter if they are democratically enforced
or ruled by a tyrant, they are by
nature in conflict. the state views
itself as the ultimate tribe. The "lesser tribes" often thrive or struggle in accordance to their ability to curry favor with the
state government. When members of
a tribe see themselves first as citizens of a state & 2nd as a tribe member, then the state has it the way it wants. One way of
a state accomplishing that is for it to
do good for its citizens. What a
concept huh?

A question for Dr. Ettefagh, re: his comments on the Indian Subcontinent:

How do you explain the political cohesion and apparent 'success' of India? (Especially given your remarks about Pakistan/Bangladesh .... your comments about the two nations may appear, at first glance at least, to be consistent with the "insufficiently imagined" label).