Strategic Studies Quarterly

Abstract Given the cultural-civilizational advantages of Iran, the use of cultural diplomacy can play an important role in improving soft power and securing the national interests of this country. In practice, the results of cultural diplomacy so far have not been satisfactory compared to the huge potential of the country. Despite some important achievements, this diplomacy has not been able to play a strong role in strengthening Iran's "international acceptance" status. Accordingly, the question of the article is why the cultural diplomacy of the Islamic Republic of Iran has not been able to have a significant impact on improving Iran's international status. In response to this question, the article addresses the problems and challenges of Iranian cultural diplomacy. Lack of a coherent strategy, neglect of the private sector, weakness of government agents, overcoming ideological views and the multiplicity of policy institutions are the most important factors involved in weakening the country's cultural diplomacy. This article, after reviewing and analyzing the issues, will reach some suggestions for the efficiency of cultural diplomacy of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Abstract Power is one of the basic concepts of international relations. This concept, which means the actor's ability to achieve the desired results, is applied in different ways; including hard, soft and smart. With the growing power of the media, the dynamism of the relations between the great powers, and also their competition for more influence and power, another concept of power has emerged, which is called "sharp power". In recent years, China has used various tactics and techniques to manipulate and attract public attention at home and abroad to advance its goals and objectives in the international and regional arenas, which some analysts have described as "sharp power." They believe that China, using its party ideology, monitors the media, universities, leaders, politicians, and Western research and economic centers, and seeks to manage and limit what is being said and published about China. Behind all these actions, there are ideological, geopolitical and economic goals and objectives. This article, while explaining the concept of "sharp power", seeks to examine why and how China uses this method of exercising power to advance its foreign policy goals.

Abstract A lot of political theories have focused on criticism and so rejection of political systems while they have attempted to introduce new alternatives. Therefore, depleting the attitude and belief about legitimacy of a dominant system while introducing an ideal alternative, concurrent with creating a mind set on why, how and when to overthrow the previous system, is the main function of a political theory. Although the political thinkers are usually try to avoid challenging the political systems directly, their explanations typically cause a political disorder, as their statements about an ideal system lead the people to feel unhappy about the existing system. The author of this paper is of the view that given the difference between political ideology and political thought, they may lead to different approaches about overthrow or change in a political system.

Abstract Categories of ideology and strategy independently was examined and defined in many works, but surveying the relationship of these categories didn't just adequate by current independent studies. For acute comparison between ideological and strategic view, it is necessity to explore their historical origins, their whole characteristics and functions and also responding the any non- academic prejudice about them. In this article by examining of the historical, the conceptual, the functional, of each category, it is criticizing the dichotomy of definitions of them that in the one side ideology is defined as idealism, morals, changeability, emotionalism, false consciousness, and non-cognitive view and the other side strategy is introduced as realism, ethical impartiality, verification, rationality, true consciousness and scientific knowledge.