We believe that the prevailing negative attitudes and prejudices among ATI communities are harmful to the peace and progress of all nations and ethnic groups that live in ATI countries. We aspire to encourage change through education, outreach and mobilization of ATI citizens who share our concerns. To achieve this goal we are focusing on the following activities:
1) Survey of literature: The scholars and commentators in ATI countries have occasionally published articles on various aspects of relations relations among Arabs and Turks and Iranians. We have prepared a list of these publications and will update this list on a regular basis. We invite you to help us with this mission by sending a link (or reference information) to relevant publications. Our database includes publications in English, Arabic, Farsi and Turkish.
2) Analysis and original articles: We will post original analysis on all aspects of Intra-ATI relations and also submissions of original academic articles, essays and op-ed articles.
3) Education and outreach: We hope that this website will offer educational material and motivation for ATI citizens who share our view and would like to promote ATI solidarity in their community. Challenging decades old biases of each ATI community against the other two will be no easy task. Individuals that want to enlighten others must have access to useful facts and educational material. If we are able to raise any funding to support outreach activities, we will provide the solidarity advocates with financial resources to support their research, publication and outreach activities.
4) Friendship and cooperation among immigrant ATI communities: Millions of people from Iran, Turkey and Arab countries have migrated to Europe, Canada, the United States and other countries. In every country that these communities have a substantial population they have created cultural organizations, religious establishments and professional associations. Unfortunately these organizations often serve one ethnic/national community and the level of interaction among them is minimal. In a large metropolitan area in Canada we often find an Iranian cultural association, an Arab cultural association and a Turkish cultural association. While these communities have many things in common, their cultural and social organizations often operate in isolation. If these communities organize joint events and develop better awareness of their common Middle Eastern identity, they can be more effective in defending their communities' rights and promoting public policies that are important to all of them.
5) ATI Cooperation in diplomatic and political support for Muslim minorities around the world. While there are many conflicts of interest among Arabs, Turks and Iranians, they have common geopolitical interests. They all want a just solution for the Arab Israeli conflict that offers a homeland and a dignified peace to the Palestinians. They all want to see improvements on human and cultural rights of the Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in China, They all want to improve the human and political rights of the Muslims in India. They can address these common concerns more effectively if they cooperate (at state level) and coordinate their foreign policies.
***
Many benefits of Intra-ATI coordination:
The Middle East region can benefit from coordination among Arabs, Turks and Iranians (Intra-ATI coordination) on many issues. Here are two important examples.
A) After the remarkable success of all Middle Eastern countries in reduction of women's fertility, the population growth rate in many countries has slowed down and in some countries it is moderately negative. This trend can be beneficial to all countries in the long run because the region suffers from shortage of arable land and economic resources. Yet political leaders in several major countries such as Iran and Turkey are worried about this trend for ideological and nationalistic regions. They are encouraging your couples to have more children. Each country is worried that its relative population will decline.
This fear can lead to demographic wars that will have undesirable outcome for everyone. If the ATI can agree to stop this campaign and allow their population growth rates to remain low while preserving each country's relative share of the total population, all countries will be better off. Given the dry climate and limited economic resources of the entire region.
B) The ATI can benefit from a coordinated expansion of ethnic and minority rights.
