نشریه پژوهش سیاست نظری
پیاپی 1 (پاییز و زمستان 1384)

This article is an attempt to clarify some aspects of interaction among civilizations from a feminist point of view. Questions that this article tries to answer are: If we consider the “symbolic” order of modern societies on one hand, and “semiotic” anarchy (in Kristevian terms) of other societies on the other, is there any possibility to establish a dialogue among these cultures on the basis of mutual understanding? Or would that be an agonal dialogue which, as Lyotard puts it “falls in the domain of agonistics” of power? And finally, how would a non- agonal dialogue be possible without reduction of any culture into another?

The present paper is inspired by part of a research titled “Dialogue of Civilizations and International Communications: An Analysis of the Actual and Theoretical Grounds of Realizing a Dialogue among Civilizations”. In part one, a review of various modern schools of political philosophy is carried out with a view to distilling models which would be congenial to the idea of the dialogue of civilizations. These are divided into the three categories of “interest-oriented liberal”, “liberal based on an ethical relationship”, and “non-liberal based on political solidarity”. Part two is an examination of the various patterns that have emerged in the field of communications in the past thirty years, as well as a brief account of their distinctive characteristics. The first paradigmatic order mainly encompasses a model critical of the prevailing capitalist system in the world. The second paradigmatic model, as underlined by Habermas, has stronger affinities to the notion of communication. The last model is more in tune with the views of communitarians. The final part is an attempt at ascertaining the degree to which the examined theories and guidelines lend philosophical and political substance to the idea of dialogue of civilizations as a scientific theory. Based on such an approach it becomes possible to establish stronger links between communitarian notions and the idea of dialogue among civilizations.

Although “dialogue of civilizations” is not a wholly new concept, its popularity was due to its being reintroduced by the Iranian President in the late 1990’s. As a notion in international relations, it has significant theoretical implications at different levels including ontological, epistemological, sociological, and normative. It is, however, theoretically underdeveloped. Among the theories of international relations, the so-called critical international theory might be seen as one of the best theoretical contexts for understanding and conceptualizing the theoretical contribution of dialogue of civilizations. This paper attempts to clarify this contribution. Critical theory is best known for its emphasis on dialogue and discourse and on the way that dialogue can shape the foundation for truth, objectivity, and consensus. At the international level, these may have more specific implications both in meta-theoretical and theoretical aspects. This paper will show how ontologically this idea can alter the state-centric conception of international relations. Epistemologically, it may function as a basis for non Euro-centric conceptions of international relations. Sociologically, it is a way towards the formation of moral community. And finally it is normatively oriented towards a less-exclusionary, fairer world politics. It will be argued that in all these four aspects it is more or less consistent with meta-theoretical, theoretical, and moral commitments of critical international theory.

This essay is a look into the political thought of Reza Davari. The author seeks to address two basic pivots in Davari’s political thinking; first his deliberations on Farabi’s political philosophy; and second, his critique of modernity. It is claimed here that Davari’s political thought is primarely philosophical, and also necessarily affected by the historical context of his life.

Friendship was one of the pivotal notions in Aristotle’s Ethics. It has, however, been neglected and marginalized in the history of western thought. There has, however, in recent times a new attentionbeing paid to this notion. This essay studies the relationship between contemporary political philosophy and friendship by assesing the notion of solidarity in this regard.

This article seeks to explain the role of democracy in Islamic political thought of Youssef Al Gharzavi. In his view, Islam has recognized democracy and has specified rules and criteria for it. Promoting goods and preventing evils, council, allegiance, and women participation in social and political arena are examples for these rules.

The author examines the notion of monitoring "political power" monitoring presented theories in Shiite foghaha’s views. Disscussing views regarding the necessity and sufficiency of inner control, as well as those regarding the necessity of both inner and outer control, constitute the core issues of this essay.