Cultural Soft Power of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Afghanistan

The Islamic Republic of Iran enjoys numerous sources of soft power at regional and global levels. One of the most important aspects of Iran’s soft power comprises cultural elements and the cultural dimension of power, which have played an effective role in elevating Iran’s strength in the international arena. One of the regions wherein Iran has many components and sources of cultural power in Afghanistan. Considering the strategic importance of this country (Afghanistan) in the regional policy of the Islamic Republic, the present research paper proposes to examine Iran’s cultural soft power in Afghanistan. While making a review of the cultural drivers affecting Iran’s cultural soft power, the paper will address the challenges of cultural power in Afghanistan as well as the role of Iran’s multilateral diplomacy in this country with regard to soft power. The main hypothesis of the paper is that cultural owing to cultural, religious, historical, and civilizational commonalities between the two nations, the Islamic Republic of Iran has many cultural resources in Afghanistan. However, the activities of regional and global powers have led to the emergence of certain challenges for Iran’s cultural soft power in the region, and, thus, in order to do away with these challenges, Iran’s multifaceted diplomacy in the fields of education, culture, and media needs to be strengthened.