Strategic Studies Quarterly

Abstract Abstract
This article seeks to examine the role of intelligence agencies in state-craft. The authors define state-craft as an intrinsic act of the government and considers the philosophy of existence of intelligence institutions as playing a role in state-craft and believe that intelligence organizations have four cognitive, supervisory, safeguarding and executive roles in order to run an efficient state-craft. This paper considers the relationship between intelligence activity and governance as a developmental relationship and believes that intelligence activity is a requirement of governance and governance is not possible without intelligence activity. The author presents three historical theoretical approaches to information, including "information as the discovery of secrets", "information as the interpretation of secrets" and "information as a tool for creating the environment" regarding the role of information in governance.

Abstract In this research, an attempt has been made to provide a model for assessing the national security coefficient of the Islamic Republic of Iran based on the topics in the Year Book of National Security, which focus on national security issues. For this purpose, content analysis strategy, decision tree logic and network analysis method were used and a conceptual model called "NAZAM" model was introduced, which includes four dimensions and consists of the initials of each dimension, which include insecure factors, security. The results of this study showed that the system's capacity dimension plays a role in the national security coefficient of the Islamic Republic of Iran more than other dimensions. Therefore, if the overall national security strategy of the Islamic Republic of Iran is focused on increasing capacity, it will have a greater impact than the strategy to deal with insecure factors. Increasing the level of efficiency of the political system, improving the interaction between the three powers, increasing the political trust and social capital of the government, increasing the level of production, repairing the electoral system and increasing Iran's consensus-building power in international organizations, more than control and countermeasures against insecure factors will increase national security.

Abstract .

Abstract The current paper aims at illustrating the relationship between culture and security within the system of Islamic Republic of Iran. In this way, the main issue to discuss is that how culture can shape security in a political system? To answer this question, the author states that culture is not an actor and its role in shaping security is done through discourses and generations. Based on the theoretical framework of this paper, security of a political system is a result of compatibility of cultural discourses governing the state, current generation and old generations and if these three are not compatible to each other instability and disorder can emerge consequently. For the author, this conceptual framework can easily explain the issue of security in the Islamic Republic of Iran and so he offers some proposals about policy making in the field of national security of the country.

Abstract The role of Intelligence in statecraft is one of the main issues of Intelligence studies and political science. This article with a focus on the role of intelligence in religious democracy as a kind of modern state, tries to distinguish the status of intelligence in this system. Authors argue that intelligence is a tool of expediency diagnosis and a tool of religious democratic rules consolidation. They also claim that there is no difference in intelligence functions among religious and non-religious democracies. Albeit, they argue, limiting rules and intelligence control practices in religious democracies are more that non-religious ones.    

Abstract This article focusing on intelligence role in the process of economic development, tries to answer this question: what are the roles of intelligence agencies in promoting process of economic development? Authors argue that intelligence agencies by production of economic intelligence, securing national economic intelligence and monitoring the development process, make the economic competition capability, assure the continuity of that capability and guarantee the economic security. Authors also claim that intelligence has cognitive, monitoring and executive role in economic development.    

Abstract This article tries to evaluate the idea of “intelligence as a scientific phenomenon and the possibility of scientific study in intelligence field”. Author has two hypothesis: first he argues for methodological similarity between intelligence and science, and then as a second hypothesis, tries to describe ontological similarities between scientific knowledge and intelligence knoweledge. Having explained these two complementary claims, author argues that without academic presence, the idea of intelligence as a scientific phenomenon would remain as a mere claim. So exposing intelligence for academic research agenda would shape its scientific nature.  

Abstract What is the role of intelligence organizations in foreign policy? And how is the relation of intelligence and foreign policy? Author in response to these questions numerates cognitive and executive roles of intelligence in foreign policy making and mutual relations between them. Author believes that type of foreign policy and requirements of foreign policy makers determine intelligence agenda and on the other hand, intelligence organizations by their cognitive products effect policy maker’s perception of issues and problems of foreign policy.

Abstract International Relations is a discipline that in comparison with other branches of Social Sciences, its research scope has the most dynamistic and changing feature. One of the most dynamistic features of this discipline at the academic level is changing its methodology and way of studying the physical environment by the IR researchers. This paper intends to explore the methodological developments in international studies and to evaluate its weaknesses as well as problems with a critical viewpoint.  The author with recognition of two Classic and Quantum approaches in Exact Sciences is of the view that in the twentieth century methodology of Social Sciences was mostly affected by the approach of Exact Sciences. However, the latter approach has not the capability to illustrate global developments in many aspects, but the theoretical Quantum framework, while having characteristics like relativity of research results and utilizing all possible methods to achieve more valid outcomes, has more relevance in the field of Social Sciences including International Relations.