The Talyshis: An Iranian people divided by the Araxes

• Published in: Kulturní studia Vol. 2024; no. 1; pp. 51 - 70
• Main Author: Arakelova, Victoria
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Czech; English
• Published: Kulturní studia 01-05-2024
• Subjects: assimilation; azerbaijan; cultural identity; iran; iranian ethnic groups; linguistic preservation; nationalism; russian-persian war; socio-cultural adaptation; talyshis
• ISSN: 2533-7599; 2336-2766
• DOI: 10.7160/KS.2024.220102

This paper examines the Talyshi people, an Iranian ethnic group divided by the Araxes River between Azerbaijan and Iran. The division, a result of the Russo-Persian War (1804-1813), placed the Talyshis within two distinct political and cultural paradigms. The northern Talyshis, under the successive rule of the Russian Empire, the Soviet Union and Azerbaijan, were confronted with a Turkish political and cultural orientation that contrasted with their Iranian linguistic and cultural heritage. This orientation led to significant shifts in identity, with the Talyshis becoming minorities within a Turkic-speaking, Turkish-oriented Azerbaijan. Southern Talyshis who remained in Iran experienced a more consistent cultural development within the Iranian paradigm, despite political changes. This study examines the impact of these divisions on Talyshi identity, language preservation and socio-cultural adaptation. It discusses the challenges of assimilation and cultural preservation faced by the Talyshis, their linguistic characteristics, and the revival of Talysh self-awareness and nationalism in the face of external pressures. The paper uses a comprehensive analysis of historical, linguistic and ethnographic data to provide insights into the resilience of Talysh identity amidst political and cultural change.