THE DOCTRINE OF THE ORGANIZATION OF TURKIC STATES AND SOUTHERN AZERBAIJAN
The power dynamics in the Eurasian region following the collapse of the Soviet Union have opened a new path for redefining national and regional identities. At the center of this lies the emergence of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) as a rising power pole. Founded on linguistic, cultural, and historical commonalities, this organization has gradually transformed from a cultural consultative forum into an international institution with strategic, security, and defense dimensions. In this process, the issue of “South Azerbaijan,” referring to the Turkic-populated regions in the north and northwest of Iran, has become one of the most sensitive intersections of the OTS’s geopolitical interests and the national security of the Islamic Republic of Iran. A detailed analysis of the organization’s approaches reveals that the doctrine of “Turkic World Unity” does not necessarily stop at the political borders of member states but views “kin peoples” in neighboring countries, especially Iran, as part of the Turkic civilizational and identity sphere.
STRATEGIC EROSION OF FEAR AND THE COLLAPSE OF MENTAL AUTHORITY
In the field of political science and the sociology of power, “fear” has always been examined as one of the oldest and most complex instruments of rule. From ancient city-states to the totalitarian regimes of the 20th century and contemporary authoritarian systems, the creation of fear has functioned not only as a means of physical repression but as a grand strategy for survival in the absence of democratic legitimacy.
