Strategic Studies Quarterly

Abstract Introduction
In political science and terrorism studies, the main emphasis has traditionally been on comprehending the nature of terrorism and its progression. Yet, the study of how terrorism evolves and the modus operandi of terrorist organizations has become increasingly crucial in today's world, sparking a significant increase in dialogue and exchange of views on this topic. This is because terrorist organizations are becoming increasingly sophisticated each day, compared to their predecessors. They adapt to environmental changes and various counter-terrorism strategies and techniques, preventing their collapse and enabling their proliferation in any environment. In light of this, the present paper aims to elucidate the concept of "postmodern terrorism", and chart the evolution of terrorist activity models in Iranian society from the traditional model (from the 1960s to the 1980s) to the postmodern model (from the late 1980s to the present). Here, we also discuss strategies suitable for “postmodern counter-terrorism” within the context of terrorism studies. For an operational definition, one could state that the features that set postmodern terrorism apart from earlier forms include a focus on identity in motivation, a global perspective in the scope of action, and an organizational structure that is both networked and virtual.
Methodology
This explanatory paper employs a library data collection method for research and utilizes a qualitative approach for data analysis. The research methodology is explanatory in nature as it aims to explain the transition from traditional terrorism (spanning the 1960s to the 1980s) to postmodern terrorism (from the late 1980s to the present) within Iranian society. The qualitative data analysis method is chosen due to the nature of the study, which is largely focused on the influence of ideology, religion, culture, politics, ethics, and similar factors on human behavior. Such studies typically require qualitative and rational analysis methods. The article further delves into the evolution of terrorist patterns in Iranian society, analyzing the impact of ideological and semantic issues to explain the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of this evolution.
Result and Discussion
The emergence of any new threat to national security invariably necessitates the creation of new institutional structures or the revision of existing ones. This is primarily because past institutions were typically designed and regulated to counter and manage previous threats, rendering them ineffective against new threats. Given the multifaceted nature of postmodern terrorism, particularly the intertwined nature of its hardware and software aspects, this need is more pronounced than ever. Furthermore, the Islamic Republic of Iran, which, according to available evidence, is under the threat of postmodern terrorism, requires this institutional development more than any other political system in the region.
Primarily, the new structures must ensure coordination among all relevant and responsible organizations to prevent duplication or lack of cooperation. This is crucial to avoid any loopholes that could lead to system penetration or malfunction, as these could result in unexpected outcomes and strategic failures. Secondly, it is essential to devise a long-term strategy that takes into account the various aspects of postmodern terrorism. This strategy should be designed in a way that accommodates both the software and hardware dimensions of this form of terrorism, and is applicable at internal, regional, and global levels. Hence, it is crucial to have security-intelligence and military collaboration with other nations in this battle. The new structures should incorporate a robust and professional department dedicated to monitoring, collecting, and analyzing electronic and virtual data of these groups globally, with a particular emphasis on virtual social networks. A key aspect of post-modern counter-terrorism is that the intelligence gathering about these groups should encompass human, social, and technical dimensions in a balanced and simultaneous manner. The past experiences have shown that many surprises and strategic failures in combating terrorism have resulted from an over-reliance on technical and telecommunication intelligence while neglecting human and social intelligence.
In general, intelligence agencies require social awareness to effectively combat postmodern terrorism. This is primarily because nascent terrorist groups initially develop and recruit members within a specific social context, and they also employ a distinct social strategy. Specifically, their strategy involves integrating the group into society and establishing a social foundation for themselves, making it challenging for intelligence and security organizations to fight them. In the event of any setback or blow, these groups can retreat to their supportive social bases and reorganize themselves.
 
 
 
 

Abstract Family in Iranian society, as the most important social unit, has an unbreakable link with cultural security and the continuity of desirable characteristics of Iranian-Islamic identity. This function has undergone changes in recent years, so that it seems that in the coming years, the undisputed role of Family in strengthening the cultural security of the society will be challenged. The question of this article is what factors have challenged the functional relationships of the family and cultural security and reduced the influence of the family institution on strengthening the cultural security in the society. In response to this question, the present article deals with the functional relationship of Family on the category of cultural security and examines the challenges in this regard. Manifestations of new and different lifestyles from the traditional framework, the capacity of social networks in giving identity and the contradiction of socialization in the family with formal socialization patterns are among the most important challenges in weakening the functional relationships of Family and cultural security.

Abstract Securitizing theory is one of the most widely used and controversial contemporary security theories that has been used by researchers to explain various security phenomena and actions. This article seeks to apply and implement this theory in the field of neglected and less used internal security by examining a case study of securitizing social networks in the Islamic Republic of Iran based on the library-documentary research method. While acknowledging that securitizing internal issues are more difficult than external issues, the author believes that issues such as the multiplicity of decision-making actors and ambiguity in the competence of security-building actors, poor framing and proper depiction of threats, neglection or lack of attention to social context, audience diversity, inadequate policy-making and Desecuritizing are the most important factors that has challenged securitizing of social networks in the Islamic Republic of Iran.