Research Institute of Strategic Studies (RISS) Strategic Studies Quarterly 1735-0727 28 3 2025 11 22 The Cognitive Foundations of National Dream Formation The Cognitive Foundations of National Dream Formation 171 216 236772 10.22034/ssq.2025.512029.4261 FA Seyed Mohammad Mahdi Gerami PhD Candidate in Comparative and Analytical History of Islamic Art, Islamic Azad University, Central Tehran Branch. Tehran, Iran. 0000-0002-5622-3292 Mohammad Hadi Raji Faculty member of the Research Institute for Security and Development Studies. Tehran, Iran. 0000-0002-1742-8922 Journal Article 2025 03 12 Introduction The concept of the national dream plays a pivotal role in shaping collective identity, orienting social aspirations, and structuring patterns of governance. Rather than constituting a merely idealized vision, the national dream encompasses cognitive, emotional, and behavioral dimensions that, over time, organize both individual and collective action within a society. In the contemporary world, many states have consciously sought to redefine or reconstruct their national dreams in order to strengthen social cohesion, enhance political legitimacy, and increase collective action capacity. Despite its significance, much of the existing scholarship has examined the national dream primarily through political, historical, or sociological lenses, while paying comparatively limited attention to its cognitive and mental foundations. In this context, cognitive science—an interdisciplinary field concerned with the study of mental, perceptual, and emotional processes—offers a novel and productive framework for understanding how national dreams are formed, stabilized, and transmitted. Concepts such as collective memory, social cognition, empathy, theory of mind, belief formation, and social decision-making provide powerful analytical tools for illuminating the internal and often invisible processes underlying the construction of collective dreams. The importance of the present study lies in its attempt to draw on insights from cognitive science to explain the mental and neural foundations of the national dream, thereby addressing a notable theoretical gap in the literature. The central research question guiding this inquiry is: How does the national dream emerge from a cognitive science perspective, and what mental and social mechanisms contribute to its formation and durability? Accordingly, the objectives of the study include examining the role of collective memory in representing the past and linking it to national foresight; analyzing the function of social cognition in generating shared understanding among members of society; exploring the role of emotion and empathy in mobilizing collective participation; and investigating the contribution of theory of mind, belief, and desire to the alignment of individual actions with collective goals. This research does not seek to test statistical hypotheses. Instead, adopting an exploratory approach, it aims to develop a conceptual framework for understanding the process of “collective dream formation.” The primary focus is on how dispersed cognitive processes at the individual level are transformed—through social interaction, shared narratives, and common experiences—into a coherent vision of the future capable of organizing social and political behavior. Methodology This study employs a qualitative research design and follows a descriptive–analytical approach, situating it within the realm of interdisciplinary research. Data were collected through documentary and library-based methods and include peer-reviewed journal articles, specialized monographs, and research reports in the fields of cognitive science, social neuroscience, social psychology, and national identity studies. The sources reviewed span the period from 2000 to 2024 and were selected based on their conceptual relevance, academic credibility, and currency. The theoretical framework is grounded in key concepts of social cognition, including collective memory as a repository of shared historical experiences; theory of mind as the capacity to attribute mental states to others; empathy as an emotional mechanism linking individuals; and belief and desire as fundamental drivers of human behavior. In addition, the notion of the “social brain” and the neural networks associated with social interaction provide an explanatory basis for understanding why collective dreams are not merely discursive constructions, but are rooted in human cognitive and affective structures. Data analysis was conducted through thematic extraction and the systematic examination of relationships among core concepts, with findings presented in the form of analytical propositions. Findings and Discussion The findings indicate that the national dream emerges from the interaction between past-oriented collective memory and future-oriented imagination. Collective memory serves to stabilize common experiences, while cognitive processes transform these experiences into a meaningful vision for the future. Social cognition and empathy play a central role in the transmission and internalization of this vision; without emotional engagement and empathic resonance, even the most rationally articulated national dreams lack the capacity to mobilize society. Moreover, the results demonstrate that theory of mind—the ability to understand the perspectives, beliefs, and intentions of others—is a necessary condition for the formation of integrated national dreams and for the reduction of intergroup tensions. Collective beliefs, consciously or implicitly, constitute the deepest layers shaping social behavior. Consequently, any attempt to reformulate or redesign a national dream is unlikely to succeed without a clear understanding of these underlying belief structures. Conclusion In sum, this study shows that the national dream is not merely a political or discursive construct, but a phenomenon deeply embedded in human cognitive and neural mechanisms. Attention to these underlying infrastructures can assist policymakers, educational institutions, and media organizations in designing cultural and social interventions that are both more realistic and more effective. The findings of this study contribute theoretically to the literature on social cognitive science and have practical implications for governance, social cohesion, and national foresight. Introduction The concept of the national dream plays a pivotal role in shaping collective identity, orienting social aspirations, and structuring patterns of governance. Rather than constituting a merely idealized vision, the national dream encompasses cognitive, emotional, and behavioral dimensions that, over time, organize both individual and collective action within a society. In the contemporary world, many states have consciously sought to redefine or reconstruct their national dreams in order to strengthen social cohesion, enhance political legitimacy, and increase collective action capacity. Despite its significance, much of the existing scholarship has examined the national dream primarily through political, historical, or sociological lenses, while paying comparatively limited attention to its cognitive and mental foundations. In this context, cognitive science—an interdisciplinary field concerned with the study of mental, perceptual, and emotional processes—offers a novel and productive framework for understanding how national dreams are formed, stabilized, and transmitted. Concepts such as collective memory, social cognition, empathy, theory of mind, belief formation, and social decision-making provide powerful analytical tools for illuminating the internal and often invisible processes underlying the construction of collective dreams. The importance of the present study lies in its attempt to draw on insights from cognitive science to explain the mental and neural foundations of the national dream, thereby addressing a notable theoretical gap in the literature. The central research question guiding this inquiry is: How does the national dream emerge from a cognitive science perspective, and what mental and social mechanisms contribute to its formation and durability? Accordingly, the objectives of the study include examining the role of collective memory in representing the past and linking it to national foresight; analyzing the function of social cognition in generating shared understanding among members of society; exploring the role of emotion and empathy in mobilizing collective participation; and investigating the contribution of theory of mind, belief, and desire to the alignment of individual actions with collective goals. This research does not seek to test statistical hypotheses. Instead, adopting an exploratory approach, it aims to develop a conceptual framework for understanding the process of “collective dream formation.” The primary focus is on how dispersed cognitive processes at the individual level are transformed—through social interaction, shared narratives, and common experiences—into a coherent vision of the future capable of organizing social and political behavior. Methodology This study employs a qualitative research design and follows a descriptive–analytical approach, situating it within the realm of interdisciplinary research. Data were collected through documentary and library-based methods and include peer-reviewed journal articles, specialized monographs, and research reports in the fields of cognitive science, social neuroscience, social psychology, and national identity studies. The sources reviewed span the period from 2000 to 2024 and were selected based on their conceptual relevance, academic credibility, and currency. The theoretical framework is grounded in key concepts of social cognition, including collective memory as a repository of shared historical experiences; theory of mind as the capacity to attribute mental states to others; empathy as an emotional mechanism linking individuals; and belief and desire as fundamental drivers of human behavior. In addition, the notion of the “social brain” and the neural networks associated with social interaction provide an explanatory basis for understanding why collective dreams are not merely discursive constructions, but are rooted in human cognitive and affective structures. Data analysis was conducted through thematic extraction and the systematic examination of relationships among core concepts, with findings presented in the form of analytical propositions. Findings and Discussion The findings indicate that the national dream emerges from the interaction between past-oriented collective memory and future-oriented imagination. Collective memory serves to stabilize common experiences, while cognitive processes transform these experiences into a meaningful vision for the future. Social cognition and empathy play a central role in the transmission and internalization of this vision; without emotional engagement and empathic resonance, even the most rationally articulated national dreams lack the capacity to mobilize society. Moreover, the results demonstrate that theory of mind—the ability to understand the perspectives, beliefs, and intentions of others—is a necessary condition for the formation of integrated national dreams and for the reduction of intergroup tensions. Collective beliefs, consciously or implicitly, constitute the deepest layers shaping social behavior. Consequently, any attempt to reformulate or redesign a national dream is unlikely to succeed without a clear understanding of these underlying belief structures. Conclusion In sum, this study shows that the national dream is not merely a political or discursive construct, but a phenomenon deeply embedded in human cognitive and neural mechanisms. Attention to these underlying infrastructures can assist policymakers, educational institutions, and media organizations in designing cultural and social interventions that are both more realistic and more effective. The findings of this study contribute theoretically to the literature on social cognitive science and have practical implications for governance, social cohesion, and national foresight.

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