Strategic Studies Quarterly

Abstract Opposition is commonly conceptualized in political science as an endogenous actor rooted in civil society and performing a corrective or constraining role in relation to state power. This article re-examines that assumption in the context of the Global South, where domestic political conflict is often intertwined with sanctions, external pressure, and geopolitical intervention. Drawing on Southern Theory and a Gramscian understanding of hegemony, the study distinguishes analytically between “endogenous opposition” and “opposition aligned with hegemonic powers.” Using a qualitative, interpretive, and comparative case-study design, it examines the political currents surrounding Reza Pahlavi in Iran and María Corina Machado in Venezuela. The analysis is based on documentary sources and focuses on three indicators: institutional and financial linkages with foreign powers, legitimization of economic sanctions, and acceptance or normalization of external military pressure. The findings show that, in the periods and cases examined, both currents display recurring patterns of alignment with external pressure strategies. However, this classification does not imply that they were entirely created abroad, lack domestic grievances or supporters, or operate under direct foreign command. Nor does the study measure their precise social support or predict their political future. The article argues that some opposition currents in the Global South may, intentionally or unintentionally, contribute to the reproduction of global domination when sustained external linkages are combined with the legitimization of sanctions and the normalization of military pressure.

Abstract  Given the modern achievements, analysis of new developments in the international arena require putting aside the traditional understanding and enjoying instead a knowledge of influential forces that are effective on dynamism, trends and results as well as introduction of new concepts.  In this way, the current paper reviews developments of the US foreign policy in the last two decades and the related theories about allocation of capabilities that are effective in shaping the poles of an international system; it also argues that, like in the past, in order to better understand the developments, it would be better to get to know the structure of poles in the international system; however, this is not enough and to achieve better understanding, one needs to know all influential new forces that affect dynamism, trends and results. To do so, the paper offers the idea of trans-pole concept according to which power is not bound to the old inter-governmental, limited and inflexible situation but enjoys some new aspects.  

Abstract Soft discourse was introduced in the final decade of the twentieth century and new horizons were born in understanding and explaining the strategic issues, particularly in International Studies. The concept of soft security has risen from the heart of this discourse and refers to a kind of security that protects the actors against such harms and risks in an intangible way.Present article mentions different ways for soft security concept to become operational in Iranian society and looks for a strategy that can protect the society and government against each other's threats in a soft way in Islamic Republic framework. So, the author believes that what can help this important strategy to operate at internal security level and prefers soft security to hard security to maintain the Islamic Republic is the reproduction of Islamic Republic discourse to face different challenges and environmental crisis in discourse fields, abstract fields and social practice domain.

Abstract Although, so far, the international system has not witnessed absolute domination of a single and only one dominating power in all political, social, military and cultural aspects, many theoretical attempts have been made to explain possible situations for such a system. The main question of the present study is: "What are possible theoretical forms for an international system based on axis of a superpower and what are its characteristics and the way of interaction between the actors inside that system?" Many of the papers in this field believe that only Unipolar and Hegemonic systems are qualified with the characteristics of a Single Power System.  The present paper, while surveying these two types of international system, is introducing another Single Power System which is Empire System (different from its traditional model). Therefore, the author attempts to study and compare the logics of internal relationship, interests of dominant power and nature of social relations (structure of social network) belonging to each of the above three models.       

Abstract Although, so far, the international system has not witnessed absolute domination of a single and only one dominating power in all political, social, military and cultural aspects, many theoretical attempts have been made to explain possible situations for such a system. The main question of the present study is: "What are possible theoretical forms for an international system based on axis of a superpower and what are its characteristics and the way of interaction between the actors inside that system?" Many of the papers in this field believe that only Unipolar and Hegemonic systems are qualified with the characteristics of a Single Power System.  The present paper, while surveying these two types of international system, is introducing another Single Power System which is Empire System (different from its traditional model). Therefore, the author attempts to study and compare the logics of internal relationship, interests of dominant power and nature of social relations (structure of social network) belonging to each of the above three models.       

Abstract In the early years of 21 Century, American public organizations launched an Overwhelming wave about the threat of dependence of America on the oil of states around the Persian Gulf and Called for adopting exact and long – term Policies in order to forestalling of a dangers arising from this dependence. Given that America's oil imports from persian gulf region only includes 11/2% of total oil imports of this country from the world and united states have strategic relations with most of states of the region and there have been created profound and continuous relationships between them, this question arise that what is the main cause of this concerns and policy – making in order to have further control on the oil rich region of persian gulf?In this article, references have been made on the international aims and Justifications of America in adopthing such policy towards persian gulf region and its consequences for this country and other international and regional actors have been evaluated.

Abstract We witnessed a new school in international politics so called neo-realism after Hans Morgenthau's dead in July 1980. Kenneth Waltz – the notably scientist in IR – made some adjustments in realism produced by Morgenthau for analyzing international order and disorder in his The Theory of International Politics. In the paper could be found the differentiations between Realism and Neo- Realism in concerned with Waltz's book, so it needs to respond what is the cognitive manner and international security analyses in Neo-Realism? With the reviewing the adjustments and the presuppositions and the key concepts of Neo- Realism it is make popper condition for focus on four main ideas of it. Rethinking the essential suppositions of realism by Neo-realism, the author argues; make proper explanation in international security for regarding to dynamic nature and logics of affairs and conception.

Abstract The hegemonic stability theory as a branch of realism in the international relations entails a hegemony leadership for regular and stability of international liberal economy. The hegemony state, in one side, enjoys the greatest and the strength economic capabilities (besides military strength and ideological influence) and the other side, lively promotes the liberal economy in the international sphere. According to the theory, while the international relations field is an area of competition, and for struggle for power among nations ( nation-states, and also the power the relative phenomena, so the free flow of liberal economy is deal with power equivalence and the hidden hand is inadequate. The appreciate distribution of power is the hegemonic stability so that the hegemony state is enforcing the liberal economy regulation with the consent of the weaker states especially the secondary powers. The theory appeared two times in the history of international political economy: second half of 19 century under the Britain hegemony and after Second World War under U.S. hegemony. The U.S. hegemony was challenged by terminated the fixed foreign exchange rate of the Breton – Woods in the late of 1960s. The United States of America was started the new phrase of reinforcing it's hegemony after cold war and emerging the new international political atmosphere. So this article pays more attention to this new phrase.

Abstract The U.S. security strategy in the Persian Gulf base on presence, influence and intervention discussed from different perspective in the recent decades. It wasn't naturally touched by any considerations, but vice versa moved by many considerations. In this situation, economic considerations, unconsciously, have had efficacious role in the U.S. security strategy related to that region. Security of energy supply, bring back the petrodollars and protecting the hegemony of dollar are the main economic factors of the U.S. strategy that exanimate here. Notice that these economic considerations are related to explicit function of the U.S. macro strategy in international sphere. According to this strategy, the U.S. would be supporting the free and regulated flow of international economy. It is reality that the U.S. hegemonic capabilities and capacities in international sphere make the most opportunity for enjoying this situation by this country and also these instruments would be strong backing of this country in throughout the world.