Strategic Studies Quarterly

Abstract Although the discourse of the Islamic Revolution had an epistemological
disconnection with the discourse of Pahlavism as "other discourse" and had a
coherence within itself, but over time and in confronting with different epistemological
discourses, it was affected by changes and many sub-discourses were formed, each of
which had a special impact on the governance of national security in Iran. In this
article, focusing on the differences between the sub-discourses formed within the
discourse of the Islamic Revolution, the question has been raised that what are the
effects of these sub-discourses on the national security governance? In response to this
question, using library resources and analysis of existing relevant secondary
documents, while examining developments in the discourse of the Islamic Revolution,
the principles and foundations as well as the effects and consequences of each subdiscourse
on the national security governance in Iran are analyzed. The hypothesis
examined in this article is that the evolution of the discourse of national security
governance in the Islamic Republic of Iran, despite the development of a specific
governance model of the Islamic Republic, weakens consensus and forms polarization
and conflict in society and also national security structures and institutions.

Abstract In answer to the question of what factors and contexts cause people to incline to terrorist groups, five approaches including psychological, social, economic, cultural, and political can be identified in the existing literature that each of them provides part of the answer. In this article, first, different views and theories are examined and criticized in the form of the five approaches. Then, a framework for a comprehensive and more accurate understanding and analysis of the factors and contexts of the tendency towards terrorist groups is provided. The authors believe that for comprehensively and accurately identify of the factors and contexts of individuals' inclination towards terrorist groups, an integrated-comparative approach should be used and a framework based on interdisciplinary view and integration of all approaches should be considered. Accordingly, an alternative analytical framework based on the link between these approaches is presented at three levels: individual, national and transnational.
 
 

Abstract Studies and analyses carried out about the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), have not properly and accurately addressed the impact of the agreement on Iran's strategic status. This article seeks to study and analyze the impact of the JCPOA on Iran's strategic status in the international system through defining an exact and measurable framework. The authors have studied and measured the impact of the JCPOA on Iran's strategic status with the help of documents and resources available in libraries or on the Internet and by using SWOT analysis to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. The results and findings confirm the research assumption that the JCPOA has elevated Iran's strategic status in the international system.
 
 

Abstract .The paper provides a different analysis the impact of trans-regional security equations on development and equality in Iran with special attention to the relationship between security and development within the framework of the regional developments. For the author, the relationship between domestic and international levels through the regional security and geopolitical structure brings about new perspectives. Thus, the main question of the paper is focused on the regional security and geopolitical structure. And to discuss the issue the following hypothesis is raised: the features of the security environment in the Middle East cause unsustainable and uneven development in Iran.
 

Abstract Although the geopolitical and security concerns have a great importance to diplomatic action and strategic decision making, the Saudi politicians have recently acted in a way that mare than these concerns, it is their cultural norms and identity that affects those decisions and this shapes their strategic culture. Given the importance of the said fact, the paper attempts to provide a clear picture of the Saudis strategic culture and in this way the main question is that what those elements and their influences are in this strategic culture. To answer these questions first a theoretical framework is offered to explain the strategic culture and then the elements and foundation of the Saudi strategic culture are identified and finally their influence on this culture will be discussed.

Abstract   It seems that the strategic approach that highlights the regional and international importance of the JCPOA, can better shed a light on its implications. The strategic approach has meaningful difference from other legal, political, security and technical approaches. Bearing these differences the paper intends to prove the regional and international implications of JCPOA for Iran. In this regard, the main hypothesis is that JCPOA has changed Iran into a regional power and has increased its international reputation. To prove this hypothesis the author has used a documentary way of research and based his argument on the existing facts and future trends that may affect the regional and international actors.   .

Abstract

Abstract Strategic Studies in Iran has developed interacting with the socio-political developments at the national, regional and international levels, and changes in the factors have affected the formation and nature of the data. Given the knowledge-power relationship, the author argues that as a result of transforming the Pahlavi regime to the Islamic Republic at the national level, changing the Western Regional order to the nonwestern, and transformation of the international system from the Cold War to the post-Cold War era, has increased the possibility of formation and development of an indigenous Strategic Studies based on the Islamic-Iranian teachings than the past. In fact, studying the formation and evolution of Strategic Studies in Iran based on a Constructivist approach, the author is intended to show how, through the transformation of internal, regional and international relations of power, the ontological foundations of Strategic Studies in Iran and consequently, the epistemological and methodological foundations of the study has converted in a way to provide an indigenous approach on the field based on the Islamic-Iranian elements

Abstract

Abstract Abstract The concept of strategy like many other concepts has been defined based on different temporal and spatial conditions, and everyone has defined it on his own perception. This article focusing on the concept of strategy, tries to analyse historical-discursive transformation of this concept to distinguish ambiguities and complexities of existing definitions, to show that these definitions are not a given ones, and can be de/re-construct. The main question of this article is to understand the logic of conceptual transformation of strategy, which author claims that can be best understood using historical-discursive method. In other words, this article instead of pure historical narration, or sole focus on given definitions, tries to combine both methods. Author by putting every definition in it’s historical context, tries to make ahistorical and meta-theoretical understanding of strategy.

Abstract : theoretical analysis of nuclear policy is not a frequent matter, but there are different theoretical frameworks in response to question of nuclearization and dis-nuclearization policies of countries. This article analyses problems of current theories on nuclearization and dis-nuclearization, and propose strategic identity as an alternative framework.

Abstract

Abstract Security studies literature which is used as a base in reviewing other countries security developments, has roots in the Western countries and especially US security developments due to its origin and nature. This literature is mostly Western (West-Based) because even if it has not been created in western geographical district by Western scholars in Western language (Latin), its main object has been to provide western inserts.This article attempts to remind the necessity of Western security studies literature revision considering its explanatory limits. Therefore, at first the nature of western security studies literature is checked, then its emergence, proliferation, and explanatory limits will be discussed. At the end, the necessity of theoretical and practical revision of the existing security studies literature is considered.

Abstract Although the Iranian security studies have had many ups and downs during its very short history and even now the need to develop it in terms of quantity and quality is undeniable, today these studies have reached to a sophisticated phase which necessitates to note it as an indigenous approach and has lead to many attempts to achieve this important end in Iran. In this paper, while there is a clear distinction between "the Iranian security studies" and "the Security studies inIran" the nature and relationship between these two is discussed and given the relevant characteristics of similar studies in the West, the same discussion takes place afterwards. 

Abstract The relationship between security and freedom is an issue which many of thinkers, politicians and even the masses have paid attention, and so consideration of its theoretical as well as practical aspects is of a very high significance. Therefore, taking into account the concept of sustainable development, this paper aims to consider the theoretical relationship between security and freedom. The main qustion of this paper is as follows: what kind of relationship between security and freedom contributes to realization of sustainable development?   To answer this question, the paper, first defines the concepts of security and freedom and then, based on rationality as their common element in respect to sustainable development it focuses on the type and amount of required relationship between the two concepts to realize the concept of sustainable development. .

Abstract Security studies inIrando not have a long history. However, studying security developments, as a small part of that bigger area is even newer. In fact, there exist many views and analyses on the very society and national security ofIranwhich have been raised by thinkers and researchers of security studies. These achievements can be categorized in four explanatory models which are as follows: discourse on securing, expansion and growth, discourse on tradition and modernity, discourse on delimitation, consolidation and pluralism, and also views on class and structure. These models can help us in understanding security developments ofIran.

Abstract Comparative studies approach has a significant place in many branches of Social Sciences. Furthermore, employing this approach in political studies has an effective role in the correct comprehension as well as explanation of political issues. However, due to their deductive or generalist feature, the well known theories of comparative politics have not been able to contain accurate feature together with comprehensiveness. These theories, at both paradigms of positivism and determinism, which encompass theories of System, Culture, Development, Class and Political Economy, have not been able to establish an accurate and comprehensive framework according to which comparing political issues would be possible. While discussing and criticizing the anthological, epistemological and methodological foundations, this paper discusses the Security System as an alternative framework to study comparative politics as well as its theoretical and conceptual elements.

Abstract In Public and Political Circles and even in most scientific debates, sometimes the concepts of doctrines, policy and strategy have been applied so intertwined and with close meanings that distinguishing between their conceptual and theoretical boundaries have become a foundamental problem. In fact, theoretical and conceptual interference and ambiguity between doctrine, policy and strategy is a considerable scientific issue that must be taken into account In this article, while establishing a connection between these concepts and the concept of security, there is an attempts toward designing a theoretical boundaries between them. Accordingly, the auther triees to reassess the assumptions regarding ambiguity of security concept and interference of boundaries of security studies. In this basis, it can be said that security is a theoretical context and denomination of doctrine, policy and strategy.

Abstract It would be preciously necessity to examining more the essential constituent of nature of security studies inIran. In regard to the necessary and for focusing security conception or a sense of need to it and security studies in one side, and the difference between security studies in Iran and Iranian security studies in the other side, the paper is reviewing the history of shaping security studies in Iran so that finding and analyzing the problems and challenges in them. Security studies inIranfor being an independent realm need to emancipating from three dependencies such as the conceptually, the scientifically, the thoughtfully.

Abstract Categories of ideology and strategy independently was examined and defined in many works, but surveying the relationship of these categories didn't just adequate by current independent studies. For acute comparison between ideological and strategic view, it is necessity to explore their historical origins, their whole characteristics and functions and also responding the any non- academic prejudice about them. In this article by examining of the historical, the conceptual, the functional, of each category, it is criticizing the dichotomy of definitions of them that in the one side ideology is defined as idealism, morals, changeability, emotionalism, false consciousness, and non-cognitive view and the other side strategy is introduced as realism, ethical impartiality, verification, rationality, true consciousness and scientific knowledge.

Abstract Conceptual overlapping among security, politics and strategy was ever caused to meaning uncertainty of security studies and its dependency to political, strategic and international relations studies, too. Here, for transparency and solving of this conceptual overlapping, author is trying to be taking under questioning the presuppositions of strategic, political and international relations studies such as likeness of concept of security and security studies, coming in to existence of security after politics, strategy and international relations, and to be more limited scope of security studies. Besides the reviewing these presuppositions, this article, by genealogy perspective, is trying to evidence the boundaries of the security studies related to political, strategic and international relations realm, and representing the evolution of it.

Abstract The relationship between security, politics and strategy has frequently been subject to academic debates and the demarcation of boundaries among these concepts and the contours of their study areas are the result of such academic debates and contentions. In this article, the author examines the historical grounds of change in the aforementioned concepts and analyzes their mutual relationship according to four traditional, meta-traditional, modern and postmodern discourses in order to explain part of ambiguities and complexities of the concept of security. Indeed, dependence of the security concept on concepts of politics and strategy and the overlapping of security studies area with areas of political and strategic studies – as the fundamental assumption in the existing literature of security studies – is challenged in the writing. In answering the question of what relationship exists between the concept of security and concepts of politics and strategy in terms of time sequence, the author tests the hypothesis that there is no time sequence between the concepts of security, politics and strategy and that historical-discursive change in such concepts indicates their coincidence.

Abstract The concept of national security is essentially a modern one which has gained meaning and significance with the formation of nation-state. National security studies are also a more recent field pertinent to the 20^th century. By the way, security should be regarded as an old and primordial category closely linked to human essence, and human beings looked at security as a ubiquitous friend even when they did not emerge as social beings. But with the lapse of time and change in human life and identity, the concept of security underwent a change. According to such presumptions, the main question of the writing is what developments have occurred in the security concept and what have been its parameters and characteristics in any historical period? This question can be answered according to the assumption of continuity or discontinuity in two historical or discursive ways. Taking advantage of mixed historical and discursive methods and assuming an evolutionary but interrupted change, the author argues that the security concept has passed four discursive changes according to specific historical periods and has experienced particular parameters and specifications. The main question of the writing is to address such an evolutionary (historical) change, while taking specific (discursive) parameters and traits of every period into consideration.

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