Strategic Studies Quarterly

Abstract There are several ways for strategy making that are traditionally used by researchers and organizations. In some cases, strategy- making using conventional methods has methodological challenges. In this research, the dynamic actor network analysis (DANA) method should be used for strategy making. For this purpose, a case study of the strategies of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the Syrian nation-state-building process was selected. In this study, a case study strategy was used and the required data were collected by documentary study method and expert panel and analyzed using dynamic actor network analysis. The results of this study showed that the strategies of the Islamic Republic of Iran for nation-building in Syria include: accepting a secular political system, accepting Arab nationalism, strengthening the Ba'ath party along with encouraging non-identity parties, strengthening parliament against the presidency, strengthening the role of the army in politics and reducing The influence of the security agencies, Independence of the judiciary from the Ba'ath party, Encouraging the semi-socialist economy, Prevent the division of forces based on the Lebanese and Iraqi models, and Opposition to federalism.

Abstract If we categorize ineffective states into weak, fragile, and failed states, it becomes clear that in the 20th century, Africa was home to most failed states, weakness and fragile states were in the Middle East and Latin America. But since the beginning of the 21st century, weak Middle Eastern states have been on a downward spiral toward becoming failed states in such a way that now three out of 10 failed states, namely Iraq, Syria, and Yemen, are in the Middle East. The present article seeks to identify the determining factors in this transition. The findings of the study shows that out of five causes of state failure, corruption and plundering by the government and reform crisis are common to the three mentioned countries. These two causes, coupled with unique factors in each country (intensification of religion and ethnic conflicts in Iraq, the decline in the power of democratic processes in Syria, and the war in Yemen) have led to them becoming failed states.
 
 

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Abstract   Russia has been taking a position against military interventions in other countries and has been supporter of territorial integrity of the sovereign states, now the question is that which interests have let the country to initiate a military operation in Syria. The authors have chosen the following reasons to illustrate the new Russian policy in this regard: the Russian Federation needs to prove itself as a very powerful actor in its own security environment; the Syria, Iran, Iraq and Lebanon Hezbollah axis should be supported at the regional level; and finally the extremist Islamic groups activities in Northern Caucasia should be prevented.  

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