A Critique of the Content of the Textbooks of the Islamic Republic of Iran on Turkey and Afghanistan

Abstract

The present study was conducted with the aim of critically examining the materials and content presented regarding the countries of Turkey and Afghanistan in the textbooks of the Islamic Republic of Iran, using a library-based method. To achieve the objectives of the research, the sixth-grade social studies textbooks from the five years leading up to 2023 were reviewed. For data collection, all the materials and content presented in the textbooks, as well as independent sources and teacher’s guides, were examined. The results showed that different indicators were used to explain the content related to the two countries, which were then compared in the final worksheets; however, the criteria and standards for comparing and examining the countries were not specified. Moreover, the comparison of the two countries—Turkey, as the western neighbor, and Afghanistan, as the eastern neighbor—is fundamentally questionable. The findings further revealed that, considering the cultural, social, climatic, geographical, political, and even governmental structures, the two countries need to be introduced and compared accordingly. Therefore, it can be concluded that these two countries differ significantly in general indicators such as geopolitical position, per capita income, access to the sea, popular culture, type of governance, international status, mineral resources, and access to oil. Climate also represents a meaningful point of divergence. The neglect of the aforementioned indicators has weakened Afghanistan’s position in comparison with Turkey and has generally created a less positive perception of Afghanistan, a friendly neighboring country, among students, while Turkey is portrayed as having a higher status.