For some time now the discussion over the meaning of two concepts, "nationality" and ‎‎"ethnicity" has caused quite a bit of misunderstanding. ‎

According to the modern nation-state paradigm: 1 - Focus is on a nation-state, not a ‎centralized state; 2 - Focus is on an official language, not a singular language; 3 - Focus ‎is on coordinated management, not central management; and 4 - Focus is on self-‎determination of all people, not the classic parliamentary model to impose national will. ‎

Iran, however, is a land composed of Iranian ethnicities. The Iranian empire has had such ‎a structure both before and after the advent of Islam. The cultures of Iranian ethnicities ‎have enriched the Iranian culture. The Farsi language is tied to Iranian identity; but this ‎language has borrowed from others. Iranian culture does not belong to any one ethnicity, ‎but is a complex mixture and combination of the cultures belonging to all Iranian ‎ethnicities.‎

One must note that centralized government and culture has not brought democracy and ‎justice to our country. Furthermore, the parliamentary model by itself has not aided in ‎the realization of self-determination in our country.‎

The analysis of conflict in both the center and periphery, which depletes the capabilities ‎of the Iranian nation as a whole, tells us that we must understand and define Iran with an ‎eye to Iranian ethnicities. Similarly, we must recognized and honor the rights of women ‎and labor unions. Otherwise, we would have neither democracy nor justice.‎

It seems as if the issue of Iranian democracy can be accomplished only by taking into ‎account the rights of Iranian ethnicities, women and other groups. Our society needs ‎decentralized, a national democracy. Equal rights and equal citizenship rights for all ‎Iranians requires a certain government structure, which cannot be boiled down simply to ‎parliamentary democracy.‎

The national parliament is the symbol of national determination, but other models of ‎governance must be analyzed to ensure equal citizenship rights for all Iranians. It also is ‎necessary to examine frameworks such as federalism, semi-autonomous regions, and ‎powerful local councils within the guidelines of national interests. There simply isn’t a ‎single federalist model. The American federal system differs from the ones instituted in ‎Germany, India or Pakistan. There also are various different models of semi-autonomous ‎regions.‎

One can respect differences within an all-inclusive national framework centered on Iran. ‎However, the clash of nationality and ethnicity is a doomed clash. This clash means war ‎and conflict. A nation engages in suppressing ethnicities when it seeks to homogenize ‎them, or place on ethnicity over the others. Meanwhile, an economic-cultural-political ‎conception of "modern nation" must be emphasized instead of the traditional race- or ‎ethnicity-based conception and prevent a clash between nationality and ethnicity, because ‎Iranian ethnicities are the building blocks of Iran. This reality must be recognized and ‎serve as the basis for a comprehensive national management plan. ‎

In this midst, one strategic point is that Iranian ethnicities must resume dialogue among ‎themselves. The preconditions for such a dialogue involve national unity in spite of ‎differences and diversity among Iranian ethnicities, belief in citizenship rights and trust-‎building. At that time, there can be further discussion regarding the appropriate model.‎

On the other hand, it may be possible for there to exist autonomous republics within a ‎country, but without real freedom and justice - as was the case in Soviet republics prior to ‎disintegration. Similarly, there can exist a decentralized model that adheres to citizenship ‎and equal rights - as is the case in many Western countries that employ such a model. ‎Dialogue based on national unity, equal citizenship rights and commitment to creating the ‎conditions for equal growth of all citizens is an essential principle. In light of this ‎principle, we can determine the desired model for Iranian democracy.‎

If we seek justice and human solutions to the issue of Iranian ethnicities, we must not fear ‎dialogue among ourselves, have the ability to cooperate with one another and take each ‎others' concerns seriously. Even if we regard such concerns as incorrect, only through ‎dialogue can we solve them. Decentralized, national Iranian democracy that seeks to ‎foster cooperation is the proper model for all Iranian ethnicities under the banner of ‎national unity. ‎