The word Iran

Iran naming dispute

History of the debate

Serious argument on this matter began in the 1980s, when Professor Ehsan Yarshater (Editor of the Encyclopedia Iranica) started to write several articles on this matter (in both English and Persian) in Rahavard Quarterly, Pars Monthly, Iranian Studies Journal, etc. After him, a few Persian scholars and researchers such as Prof. Kazem Abhary and Prof. Jalal Matini followed the issue. Several times since then, Persian magazines and websites have published articles from those who agree or disagree with usage of 'Persia' and 'Persian' in English.

In view of many of these articles, it seems that the subject has not been explained sufficiently. Some think the name Persia belongs to antiquity, and ought not to be used now. Others believe that "Persia" includes only one province within Iran, and should not be used for the whole country. There are also many Persians and non-Persians in the West who prefer "Persia" and "Persian" as the English names for the country and nationality, similar to the usage of La Perse/Persane in French, and Persien/Perser/persisch in the German language.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran_naming_dispute

Bring back Persia
It is not just about a name

In the mid 1930s the ministry of foreign affairs of the government of Persia issued a decree to all foreign diplomatic delegations in Tehran prohibiting them from referring to the country as "Persia", requiring them to call it "Iran" instead.

This strange act met no significant resistance at home, given the totalitarian nature of the regime, widespread illiteracy, and the intelligentsia's lack of insight.

There was international disapproval but no effective measures were taken to reverse it. After all, the world was on the verge of another global war. Besides, who would be responsible for the internal affairs of a nation other than that nation itself?

The hidden rationale, according to anecdotal reports, lied in the political ties between the then government of Persia and the Nazi regime in Germany. This undeclared alliance was based on common political ambitions of both regimes against Britain and Soviet Union.

There were significant activities by the Nazis and their organized supporters in Tehran. As witnessed by many Iranians studying in Germany at the time, the Nazis honored Persians because of their "Aryan roots".

It is believed that close advisors to the Reza Shah suggested replacing Persia with Iran (which possibly derives from "Aryan") as a show of solidarity with the Germans. Even without documented proof of this story, it is difficult to think of another reasonable explanation.

A generation after that unwise decision, no one recognizes us as the nation that inherited the heritage of the Persian empire. No history book is teaching students who we are as Persians. Instead, we are Iranians with no connection to the past.

One may argue that those good old days of the Persian empire belong to the past. And according to some self-critical intellectuals, the Persian empire might not have been so glorious anyway. They say we have to think about our present situation and worry about the future. What good would a name do?

Wise thinking, in a sense. But could anyone ignore the power of national pride in building the future? It is not just about a name, it is about national identity. No nation and no honest leadership would give up on a hard earned national identity.

Some may try to console themselves that not all Iranians are Persians. The fact of the matter is that the boundaries are blurred anyway if you are considering the genetics of the case. That is not the basis of this argument. Far from it.

Nations have been formed around major cultural elements such as language, traditions and religion. Nations consisting of people with different ethnical or religious backgrounds, share enough of these cultural elements to feel they belong to one nation.

This normally happens over centuries. The longer these common ties, experiences and sufferings, the stronger the solidarity of a nation. The whole advantage of feeling part of a nation is its spiritual power that helps us move forward.

The way we look at modern Persian nationalism is like a defensive mechanism against backwardness -- not chauvinism against any other nationality or ethnic group inside or outside our country. The glorious past is just a reminder to ourselves of the hope for renewed success in the future.

Is there really any validity to that piece of paper sent to foreign embassies in Tehran more than sixty years ago? We were never asked if we agreed with the name change. Why should our children living abroad remain shy Persians who introduce themselves quietly as "Persian... you know... from Iran"?

http://www.iranian.com/Opinion/2001/February/Persia/

They called it Eron IIRC.