Strategic Studies Quarterly

Abstract This article argues that the metaphor of trusteeship can elaborate the meaning of state and power in Islamic system and religious democracy. The concept of state and power as a kind of trust could help to extract the similarities among trusteeship in its general concept and the state, power and statesmanship. Author argues that this way, he could explain the nature of power and state in Islam. He argues that trusteeship in its general concept has a Trans temporal and Trans local and Trans generational value, which is not suspendable in Islam. Trust is a practical concept in accomplishment of religious democracy and good governance in Islamic republic and its feasibility among rulers and ruled people in different aspects as in elections could strengthen social and political capital and psychological security in Iran. 

Abstract This article measures and analyses the relation between religious democracy and national security. Author explains these concepts from practical point of view. He describes and explains national security in religious democracy from Copenhagen approach, using qualitative content analysis method in analyzing the vision document of Islamic Republic of Iran. He concludes that the concept of national security in religious democracy is compatible with broad concept of national security in Copenhagen school. He claims that regardless of some strong points in societal, social and human security, there are tangible deficits in environmental, economic and social vulnerabilities which have negative security impacts. To restore the shortcomings in security aspect, author suggests national security annex for every policy, analysis of missions from security aspects, to socialize security which means to base security in society and at last to empower security research institutions.

Abstract The idea of societal security has been proposed by Copenhagen school in recent 1990s.Later on, by broadening the concept of security, new aspects of security such as existential security is devised which can be described in context of societal security. This article, after theoretical explanation of societal security, reviews the description of liberalism, communitarianism and religious democracy from this aspect of security. He argues that, religious democracy by emphasizing on ideational aspects and focusing on congregation, and by  changing ethnical and cultural difference to variables not constant rules and emphasizing on Islamic brotherhood and rights of other non-Muslim minorities, could afford to manage societal challenges.

Abstract This article tries to review the relation between democracy and national security in less-developed nations. Since there are some limits on civil and political freedoms in less-developed countries in the name of national security, and democracy has had some unpleasant impacts on national security in these kinds of nations, author tries to analyze this issue.  This article shows that democracy and civil institutions of democratic system can correct and facilitate the flow of data, match outputs and inputs in political system, and coordinate components of political system with its functional environment, and help to increase national security factors. This occurs through functions like making social cohesion, increasing political capacity, increasing the legitimacy of system, positive effects on nation building process, and adapting elites discourse with social discourse.    

Abstract this article tries to study and analyses the effect of Islamic republic  in enhancement of social capital and its evolution in the shape of social trust, political participation, religious participation, social cohesion and social solidarity based on religious democracy in the framework of Islamic republic. The goal of article is to review the impact of Islamic revolution in enhancing social capital and accomplishment of religious democracy.    

Abstract The main question of this article is that “how religious democracies could move toward peaceful foreign policy?” Author in response, argues that in this kind of democracy peace seeking is feasible through tow processes. The first process is through religious teachings that confirms and emphasizes on peace or refusal of war. The second process is through democratic institutions that restrict war to emergency situations. Author case studies these claims in Islamic Republic of Iran.    

Abstract The role of Intelligence in statecraft is one of the main issues of Intelligence studies and political science. This article with a focus on the role of intelligence in religious democracy as a kind of modern state, tries to distinguish the status of intelligence in this system. Authors argue that intelligence is a tool of expediency diagnosis and a tool of religious democratic rules consolidation. They also claim that there is no difference in intelligence functions among religious and non-religious democracies. Albeit, they argue, limiting rules and intelligence control practices in religious democracies are more that non-religious ones.