An Introduction to the Causes of Alienophobia and antialienism in the Current Iranian Political Culture

This article seeks to examine the causes of alienophobia and antialienism in the contemporary Iran’s political culture with emphasis on subjective and cultural ones. The author’s approach is cultural and tries to re-examine this subject in the context of Iran’s political culture which has roots in her historical experiences. The article argues that the origins of Iranian historical alienophobia and antialienism may be found in 1) “the subjective construct”, 2) the “type of belief” and 3) the “attitude of Iranians” towards the world in which they live. Further, the author believes that the bitter experiences of the Iranian history particularly the foreign interventions in the country, have deepened this kind of attitude towards the aliens.