In the current era, altruism, tolerance, and ethical and human values have become one of the seriously missing links in international life and human relations.
This deficiency is acutely felt in circumstances where great powers, in rhetoric and action, prioritize their own countries; they seek security, welfare, and stability only for their own people, and heedless of the values and desires of other nations, they beat the drum of their selfish national interests.
It seems that today's international community is in greater need of moral and spiritual restoration than ever before. In fact, the nations of the world require a lofty cultural model; a model free from selfishness, pure egoism, and an emphasis on purely national interests, and one that can imbue the world with a more ethical and humane color.
Based on this, it can be said that the rite of Nowruz, due to its deep connection with nature and life, as well as its universal human characteristics, possesses high potential and can become an influential cultural factor in the field of international relations.
Nowruz, as a symbol of ancient Iranian culture with a history spanning several thousand years, has remained steadfast. The traditions and norms embedded in this rite have been passed down from generation to generation and embody prominent characteristics. These characteristics include an emphasis on ethical values, the promotion and strengthening of human relations and altruism, the importance given to nature and the environment, a belief in the possibility of change and betterment, and attention to health and cleanliness.
It is the totality of these inherent qualities and values in the rite of Nowruz that grants it the capacity for global impact.
Of course, this is not a claim believed only by Iranians; the importance and potential for influence of this rite are so significant that on February 23, 2010, the United Nations General Assembly, by adopting a resolution, proclaimed March 21 as the International Day of Nowruz. Thus, for the first time in the history of this organization, Nowruz was recognized as an international occasion.
Prior to that, the Nowruz file was registered in October 2009 by 7 civilizational countries of the Nowruz sphere (Iran, Azerbaijan, India, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Turkey, and Uzbekistan) on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, and it was re-registered in 2014 with the request for accession of 5 other countries (Afghanistan, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan); a process that indicates the great potential of this event in connecting nations.
Nowruz, as an ancient festival, has held and continues to hold a special place in the history and culture of the region's nations. The countries of the Nowruz sphere have had long-standing historical relations in various fields for many years, and although their relations have experienced various ups and downs in recent years, the Nowruz festival remains a pretext and an opportunity for strengthening friendships and expanding relations among the nations and countries of the region. Nowruz brings the human message that, together with nature, one can set aside all coldness, hostility, and problems and rebuild everything anew. One can be as kind as Mother Nature and desire generosity, development, and welfare not only for a limited and specific area and ethnic group but for all human beings and creatures.
Giving importance to these ethical and human values in international relations can always pave the way for establishing peace and stability; because by prioritizing these shared rites alongside collective goals and interests, selfishness can be reduced and division can be prevented. The countries celebrating Nowruz, relying on the shared rites of this ancient festival, can move towards pacts of cooperation, peace, and friendship among themselves and other countries in the region and become a model for convergence. Furthermore, the development of Nowruz tourism can also be effective in strengthening the economies of the countries in this sphere.
Based on this, the countries of the Nowruz sphere can take steps towards regionalism by relying on a shared understanding of their identity. This regionalist approach can lead to an increase in their exchanges in all fields.
The key difference of this type of regionalism, compared to regionalism with purely political-security objectives, lies in its strength and sustainability. This is because the cultural and value foundations of Nowruz give these collaborations a longer life and greater durability.
Consequently, the Nowruz civilizational sphere possesses immense potential for intra-regional cooperation and playing a role in shaping global culture. Realizing these potentials requires the effort and determination of the leaders of these countries to operationalize them. Therefore, the view of Nowruz should not and cannot be limited, closed, and nationalistic; for the Islamic Republic of Iran, which has civilizational aspirations and has always sought to shape a native and inward-looking regional order (without the intervention of foreign powers), this ancient rite is the beginning of an active movement for playing a role, producing culture, and norm-setting at the regional and global levels. This is something that, of course, will not be achieved merely through slogans and rhetoric but requires strategic thinking, strategic planning, and the targeted development of cooperation and relations with countries in the region.
Mohammad Mehdi Mazaheri, University Professor
(The opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the IPIS)