Strategic Studies Quarterly

Abstract

The main goal of this paper is to study the influence of the Salafi discourse in the Islamic world on the security in theMiddle Eastand like the Baabi Sa’eid’s approach towards the political Islam, the author uses the discourse methodology in this paper. Due to its radical position against the secular western discourse, the Salafi Islam has caused grave concerns for the international society. This discourse, given to its challenges against the western international order and moving forward the Islam – identity based approach, has drawn great attention under the issue of globalization of security and therefore, Salafi Islam has been one of the important topics in the international security studies. In this way, the hypothesis of this paper is as follows: “given the origins of the Salafi Islam discourse in theMiddle East, and in the light of its proliferation in the world, the security of this region has been globalized”. With the globalization of the security, discourses like the Salafi Islam has appeared in the virtual spatial and therefore its security readings have been much more visible in the literature. Wherever the Salafi Islam matches with the globalization, we will witness greater promotion and spread of an epistemology which believes that the Western discourse cannot provide proper security.

Abstract Any thinker's approach toward the issue of structure – agent and their interaction is one of the key elements in leading his/her perception and analysis about the social environment. It is the case especially in International Relations and Foreign Policy. Generally three approaches namely, Structure, Agent, Foundation can be identified in IR. With respect to the Islamic Republic of Iran also two different approaches focus on either Agent and its main role in leading to shape the international system or Structure and necessity of compatibility with the international system. The paper argues that while in the beginning the dominant approach in foreign policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran was dominated by Agent approach, it was replaced by Structure approach in the later phases. 

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.

Abstract This paper focuses on developments of the concept of humanitarian intervention through the prism of theories of International Relations. Humanitarian intervention as a rule is a difficult experiment for the international community which is mainly based on principals of sovereignty, non–intervention and not to use of force.  With the globalization of human rights and paying special attention to prohibition of genocide, torture and breach of basic human rights, this humanitarian principal is in conflict with the principals of sovereignty and non– intervention. In the mean time, this concept has experienced a deep change prior to and after the Cold War era. Here, first the concept of intervention is addressed with using the theories of Realism and Liberalism. Then, while using the theory of Constructivism, the concept of humanitarian intervention, as a normative, value-based and international rule is discussed and finally the development of the concept of humanitarian intervention is illustrated, as a whole, in International Relations.

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 This article addresses the weak points of the dominant discourse in the field of international relations, namely realism and neorealism, and displays that issues related to security cannot be analyzed well in the modern age according to those assumptions. Pointing to the underdevelopment of the international relations discipline and proposing critical, postmodernist and feminist theories, the author tries to stress that these approaches give more space to those marginalized in the mainstream of international relations field in order to enter it. In this line, he believes that these theories, by questioning epistemological, ontological and methodological assumptions of realism, challenge the approach’s traditional outlook on security and have integrated new security relations and new analytical frameworks in the field, by including destitute people, women and the poor as actors in the domain of international relations. For critical theorists, security is often defined as the absence of threat, and it is closely linked with the concept of emancipation and world autonomy leading to freedom of action and true security. Postmodernism also creates satisfaction for those who see the world of politics from the viewpoint of peripheral actors. Within feminism, insecurity is also a gender issue that is combined with the other sources of insecurity. Furthermore, feminists seek to make international relations gender-sensitive.