Strategic Studies Quarterly

ُSustainable Security of Political system of Islamic Republic of Iran

Pages 11-48

https://doi.org/10.22034/ssq.2026.540757.4302

Noorollah Gheisari, Sadegh Aghaei

Abstract مقاله حاضر تلاشی برای پاسخ به یک دغدغه تاریخی یعنی مسئله امنیت است. دامنه و عمق این معضل در عصر حاضر بر اثر پیچیدگی روابط، تغییر نیازها و فشردگی زمان و مکان گسترش یافته است. متناسب با این گستردگی، فهم مقوله امنیت بر اثر پژوهش‌های اندیشمندان علوم انسانی غنی‌تر از پیش گردیده و امنیت به یکی از عرصه‌های تعیین‌کننده سیاست‌گذاری کشورها تبدیل شده است. امروزه این موضوع در اسناد کلان و سیاست‌گذاری‌های کشورها در قالب مفهوم امنیت پایدار مورد توجه واقع شده است. جامعه علمی و سیاست‌گذاران امنیتی درایران نیز در سال‌های اخیر از این مفهوم برای پاسخ به معضلات امنیتی نموده‌اند. لذا علی‌رغم وجود مضامین ایده امنیت پایدار در اسناد کلان جمهوری اسلامی، مفاهیم، ابعاد، مؤلفه‌ها و الگوی امنیت پایدار در این اسناد به‌خوبی تصریح نشده است. ازاین‌رو سؤال اصلی این مقاله آن است که «مؤلفه‌های پایداری در اسناد کلان نظام جمهوری اسلامی ایران چه الگویی از امنیت پایدار را ارائه می‌دهند؟». برای پاسخ ابتدا با روش کتابخانه‌ای به مطالعه یافته‌های پژوهش‌های پیشین پرداخته شد. سپس با مطالعه ادبیات امنیت پایدار، مدل مفهومی امنیت پایدار در ساحت نظری طراحی گردد. در ادامه با روش متن‌کاوی اسناد کلان جمهوری اسلامی مورد واکاوی قرار گرفتند که حاصل آن استخراج 200 مؤلفه پایداری می‌باشد. بازتاب این 200 مؤلفه در قالب 20 شاخص نویسندگان را به طراحی مدل مفهومی امنیت پایدار در اسناد کلان رهنمون نمود. نهایتاً الگوی امنیت پایدار نظام جمهوری اسلامی، از طریق مقایسه دو مدل مفهومی امنیت پایدار در ساحت نظری و مدل مفهومی آن در اسناد کلان ارائه شد

Genomic Paradigm of National Security

Pages 49-77

https://doi.org/10.22034/ssq.2026.569443.4355

Mohammad Masrour, Reza Nazari Emami

Abstract Following the artificial intelligence revolution, which brought fundamental transformations across multiple dimensions of national security, the “genomic revolution,” emerging through the convergence of artificial intelligence advances and the formation of the “precision public health” platform, is presented as the next phase of this paradigmatic shift. Precision public health refers to the use of advanced technologies for targeted disease prevention and health promotion through the precise assessment of pathogens, environmental conditions, behaviors, and population vulnerabilities. This concept extends beyond health and carries profound implications for national security.
Employing a descriptive–analytical approach and documentary research methods, this article examines the precision public health platform and its role in transforming genomic data collection and utilization, as well as its impact on national security. The central research question is how, through this platform, the human body becomes a new domain of warfare and genomics emerges as a new reference framework for national security. Biological warfare shifts from limited attacks to a dominant model of conflict, bringing the zero point of biological wars closer than ever. Within this paradigm, a “genomic order” is established, and the axis of security and power shifts from individuals and states to the genome. Humans are redefined as biological data, and protecting genomic data equates to safeguarding national security. Finally, by examining Iran’s situation in this field, the study emphasizes the necessity of acknowledging these global transformations and developing a new geometry of national security.
Keywords: National Security, Artificial Intelligence, Precision Public Health, Genome, Genomics

An Analysis of Opportunities for Economic Corruption in Iran’s Semi-State-Owned Companies

Pages 79-113

https://doi.org/10.22034/ssq.2026.569034.4354

zeynab abdollahkhani, Hamid Bahremand, Jamshid Gholamloo

Abstract Economic corruption is a phenomenon that holds an important position in political and economic literature, and governments have consistently placed the promise of reducing it on their agendas. This phenomenon has always been sensitive and provocative for the public, to the extent that the occurrence of its instances is regarded as a sign of managerial incompetence and fuels public anger. Therefore, policymakers have continually sought to identify the factors influencing the emergence of this phenomenon in order to prevent the formation of corruption and economic scandals through preventive measures.

An examination of corruption cases shows that quasi-governmental companies, due to their dual public–private nature, create areas that facilitate the occurrence of corruption. Recognizing the significant role of quasi-governmental companies in the development of economic corruption, this research seeks to answer the question of what deficiencies exist within the structure of these companies that lead to the formation of economic corruption. Addressing this question enables a deeper understanding of the corruption phenomenon through a detailed and pragmatic perspective and provides insights for those responsible for corruption prevention.

The study adopts a qualitative approach and, based on thematic analysis of the text of 20 case files and 8 interviews, seeks to discover and identify patterns and themes emerging from the experiences of managers of quasi-governmental companies and the corruption cases related to them. The findings indicate that weak corporate governance, a destructive organizational culture, and flawed oversight are the three main factors and conditions for the occurrence of corruption in quasi-governmental companies.

Classifying Hydro- political conflicts an their examples

Pages 115-155

https://doi.org/10.22034/ssq.2026.545725.4315

Yashar Zaki, Mohammad Mahmoudian

Abstract Water, a critical natural resource, has become a significant geopolitical factor in today's world. Population growth, economic development, and climate change are intensifying competition and potential conflicts over water resources. With over 60% of the world's freshwater resources crossing national borders, international tensions are rising due to unbalanced distribution and management challenges.

Hydro-politics is the systematic study of relations between countries concerning the use of international waters. These relationships can manifest as cooperation, competition, or conflict, influenced by broader geopolitical and economic ties. Almost half of the Earth's surface lies within international river basins, which are home to 2.8 billion people across 286 basins, covering 42% of the total land area. The growing demand for shared resources in these basins exacerbates tensions.

Disputes over water often arise from differing interests and can escalate into conflicts, leading to environmental problems like desertification. As water scarcity increases, so does the risk of high-tension scenarios in transboundary basins. Understanding the causes of these conflicts is crucial for effective management and prevention.

This study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the root causes of water conflicts and to propose appropriate categories for their systematic analysis.

Causal Layered Analysis of Tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 16 June 2026

https://doi.org/10.22034/ssq.2025.497074.4238

Ali akbar Asadi

Abstract Conflict and tension have played significant roles in the relationship between Iran and Saudi Arabia in recent decades. Despite numerous attempts to alleviate tensions, these efforts have not successfully led to the establishment of stable and cooperative relations between the two countries. This article aims to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the causes of tension between Iran and Saudi Arabia using Causal Layered Analysis. The research findings suggest that multiple factors at various levels contribute to the continuation of tension between Iran and Saudi Arabia. At the litany level, the positions and actions of leaders indicate the level of tension and its fluctuations in different periods. In the second layer, systemic factors such as disparities in political and economic systems, regional geopolitical rivalries, and variations in policies and interactions with the international system need to be considered. In the third layer, conflicts in identity and discourse between Iran and Saudi Arabia play a role in escalating tensions. These conflicts arise from differences in worldview attitudes among leaders, as well as religious and ethnic divisions. In the deeper layer, there are general metaphors such as Ajam, Rafezi, primitive Arab, as well as political metaphors like the Safavid Empire, American Islam, and the Wahhabi state. These metaphors reflect varying degrees of Iranophobia or Arabophobia, ultimately perpetuating a state of mistrust in relationships.

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Riyadh's Strategic Flexibility: Examining Saudi Multilateralism in the Era of Geopolitical Transition and the Redefinition of Strategic Balancing with Global Powers

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 20 May 2026

https://doi.org/10.22034/ssq.2026.559211.4332

Mersad Jamali, sobhan sayyaran

Abstract This study aims to elucidate the mechanisms of "Pragmatic Multilateralism" in Saudi Arabia's foreign policy by examining the continuity of its strategic-security alliance with the United States alongside the deepening economic cooperation with China and Russia within the context of an emerging pluralistic order. The theoretical framework employs a hybrid approach: Neoclassical Realism is utilized to explain the structural drivers and the "why" behind this strategy, while Complex Interdependence Theory addresses the "how" and its operational mechanisms. Adopting a qualitative, explanatory-analytical method, the research focuses on Saudi Arabia as a case study from 2014 to 2024. The central research question explores how Saudi foreign policy has shifted toward pragmatic multilateralism through the interaction of systemic and domestic variables amidst the global geopolitical transition. The primary hypothesis posits that Saudi pragmatic multilateralism serves as a mechanism to sustain the traditional alliance with the U.S. while simultaneously expanding economic ties with the East via Positive Balancing; a strategy designed to avoid both divergence from the West and new dependencies on the East. Findings indicate that Riyadh has successfully transformed its security alliance with Washington from the traditional "oil-for-security" model into a balanced partnership based on mutual interests. Simultaneously, by attracting capital and technology from the East, the Kingdom has paved the way for its Strategic Autonomy.