The Strategic Position of the Silk Road and Its Role in the Economy of Gilan Province
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KNUV 2018; 4(58): 55-68 Hamidreza Alipour Islamic Azad University THE STRATEGIC POSITION OF THE SILK ROAD AND ITS ROLE IN THE ECONOMY OF GILAN PROVINCE Summary The Silk Road is the main link between the main parties of the old civi- lisations in the three continents of Eurasia. Iran is one of the countries that have enjoyed transit advantages due to its geographical location. With the expansion of the transportation network and reliable and efficient commu- nications, Iran can benefit from relationships with 15 countries through its borders. This, in turn, is very beneficial for the link between the countries of Central Asia and the Persian Gulf States as well as the establishment of commercial relationships between East Asia and the European countries thro- ugh Iran. In the same vein, the development of economic relations, bilateral and multilateral trade agreements, joint investments in the steel industry, petrochemicals, refineries, water and electricity, and hotel business, and the establishment of a free trade zone are among the economic solutions that have the common ground of cooperation and convergence. The monetary union can also be effective in achieving economic integrity. In fact, economic integration and the attempt to reach the financial union can be effective in reducing economic disparities between the countries of the Silk Road, and the formation of a regional organisation called the Economic Council of the Silk Road or the Commonwealth of the Silk Road Countries seems to be necessary. According to the geographical location of Gilan Province, taking this advantage can bring many benefits and improve its economic status at the regional and global levels. Key words: development of economic relations, Silk Road, Gilan Province. JEL codes: F10, O24 introduction Silk Road is the main link between the main bodies of the old civilizations in the three continents of Eurasia which is important in this regard. Asian civilizations including the Chinese, Indian, Central Asia, Iran, Mesopotamia, Urartu, and Yemen. European civilizations include Greece, Rome and other civilizations in southern Europe and African civilizations include Egypt, Kush and other African civilizations. In fact, Silk Road refers to all the water and 56 Hamidreza Alipour land routes connecting the West-Pacific civilizations to the East Atlantic. These paths went through a wide variety of political, cultural, social, and religious realms which their totality constitutes as a valuable part of the precious human heritage (Fazeli 2011). Silk Road has always played an important role in various dimensions for countries such as Iran. The economic role of it has always been a matter for government officials. The Islamic countries along the Silk Road create the main cultural crossroads that are the richest and most extensive human heritage. These historic and historical heritage have created major tourist attractions in the region. Revising old patterns of communication along this road and restoring its historical texture will guarantee not only its preservation, but also the survival of the region’s traditions and tourism prosperity. Intended places in this path get meaningful, as a symbol. In this paper, we tried to explore the course of the formation of the path in addition to identifying the capabilities of this important historical cultural road (Heshmatipour 2010). iran’s strategic position on the Silk road in order to business development Iran is one of the countries which has benefited good transit advantages in terms of its geographical location. Based on the expansion of the transportation network and reliable and efficient communication, it is possible to use the advantages of Iran in communication with 15 countries across the water and land borders and in the meantime, Iran can play a role of a bridge between other countries and regions of the world. On the other hand, these countries have a large population and have many revenues. Hence, this factor, in addition to the availability of national resources, can be a factor in the development of trade and target markets in the region. The relationship between Central Asian countries and the Persian Gulf is very cost effective as well as the establishment of a commercial relationship between East Asia and European countries through Iran, as many of these countries seek to establish such relations through Iran. The strategic location of Iran, especially a thousand- kilometer route of Tehran-Mashhad, can have many opportunities for Islamic markets. Of course, the proper exploitation of these opportunities and the necessary funding and extensive advertising can be effective in integrating the geographic and unique position of this route. Therefore, the way to exploit these advantages, opportunities and establish transport links with target countries, can play a major role in facilitating the development of business between countries of the region and Asia (Salmanian and Zande Moghaddam 2010). In addition, from the point of view of foreign investment, the countries with this investment path can create prospects for economic prosperity in The Strategic Position of Silk Road and its Role in the Economy of Gilan 57 weaker countries and with the economic alliance, they will help to achieve the economic and financial integration among them. Finally, the birth of economic institutions among the Silk Road countries could coordinate economic activities between these countries in the near future to reach a major financial and economic alliance in the world. Gilan is one of the 31 provinces of Iran. It lies along the Caspian Sea, in Iran’s Region 3, west of the province of Mazandaran, east of the province of Ardabil, and north of the provinces of Zanjan and Qazvin It borders the Republic of Azerbaijan in the north and Russia across the Caspian Sea.The northern part of the province is part of territory of South (Iranian) Talysh. At the center of the province is the main city of Rasht. Other towns in the province include Astara, Astaneh-e Ashrafiyyeh, Fuman, Lahijan, Langrud, Masouleh, Manjil, Rudbar, Rudsar, Shaft, Hashtpar, and Sowme’eh Sara. The main harbor port is Bandar-e Anzali (previously Bandar-e Pahlavi). It seems that the Gelae (Gilites) entered the region south of the Caspian coast and west of the Amardos River (later Safidrud) in the second or first century B.C.E. Pliny identifies them with the Cadusii who were living there previously. It is more likely that they were a separate people, had come from the region of Dagestan, and taken the place of the Kadusii. That the native inhabitants of Gilan have originating roots in the Caucasus is supported by genetics and language, as Gilaks are genetically closer to ethnic peoples of the Caucasus (such as the Georgians) than they are towards other ethnic groups in Iran. Their languages shares typologic features with Caucasian languages. Gilan has a humid subtropical climate with, by a large margin, the heaviest rainfall in Iran: reaching as high as 1,900 millimetres (75 in) in the southwestern coast and generally around 1,400 millimetres (55 in). Rasht, the 58 Hamidreza Alipour capital of the province, is known internationally as the “City of Silver Rains” and in Iran as the “City of Rain”. Considering Gilan is mostly inhabited by Gilaks, a Gilaki Iranian culture is present in the province that is not much different from other Iranian traditions. The biggest differences are seen in foods, traditional songs, traditional clothes, rural areas and their every-day life, and other traditions such as the Gilaki Calendar and the Gilaki New Year called “Nouruz Bel” which is during the summer. This new year is distinct from the more popular Iranian New Year as it relates to the people of Gilan and their mostly agricultural life. The Gilaki language is a Caspian language, and a member of the northwestern Iranian language branch, spoken in Iran’s Gīlān Province. Gilaki is one of the main languages spoken in the province of Gilan and is divided into three dialects: Western Gilaki, Eastern Gilaki, and Galeshi (in the mountains of Gilan). The western and eastern dialects are separated by the Sefid River. union of Silk road countries Today, many of the countries in this route have achieved impressive technical technology and can help with the exchange and transfer of these technologies to underdeveloped countries. On the other hand, many of these countries have huge energy reserves. Circulating the right way of these reserves among these countries is an effective step in the economic progress to provide an effective economic context among them. If the turnover between the countries of the Silk Road expands to other countries and they can establish a high level of trade balance mutual affiliations will be created. As a result of these interdependencies, the field for the creation of an integrated integrity will be created. For the development of economic relations, bilateral and multilateral trade agreements, joint investments in the steel industry, petrochemicals, refineries, water and electricity, hotel industry, the establishment of a free trade zone and etc. are among the economic solutions that have to provide the common ground of cooperation and convergence. The formation of a monetary union can also be effective in achieving economic integrity. Uniform currency is also an effective tool in this economic integration. In fact, economic integrity and efforts to reach the financial union can be effective in reducing the economic disparities between the countries of the Silk Road. Undoubtedly, among these countries, there are different countries with different economic fields and talents, each of which has the most important economic potential in the world and on the other hand, countries that are not economically well- positioned. Hence, the expansion of exchanges and economic transactions between these countries can contribute to the development of all the countries on this path and according to the correct criteria, progress can be made for The Strategic Position of Silk Road and its Role in the Economy of Gilan 59 everyone.