Investigating the Role of Geopolitical Indicators in Border Security (Case Study: Border Cities of West Azerbaijan Province)

One of the conditions and necessities of providing security in a country is securing the international borders of that country. Border security is a precondition for the country's internal security. Iran has many borders with its neighbors, whose insecurity has raised concerns for border residents and the central government. West Azerbaijan Province due to its proximity to three important countries, also, due to its sensitive geopolitical and geostrategic position as a gateway and bridge between Iran and Europe, is considered one of the most troubled border lines in the country. Numerous socio-military and political problems such as smuggling of goods and fuel, alcohol, narcotics, weapons and ammunition clashes between security forces and Kurdish nationalist groups, and ethnic-religious tensions and challenges between minorities are among the most common causes of insecurity in the area. In terms of research method this research is descriptive-analytical and in terms of its objectives it is of an applied research type, which has evaluated the role of geopolitical indicators in border security of border cities of West Azerbaijan province. The statistical population is 30 professors, specialists and experts in the field of security and military-security personnel and the Pearson correlation coefficient method has been used for data analysis. The results show that the most important geopolitical factor affecting border security is political factors and the most effective component is the presence of foreign forces opposed to the Islamic Republic in neighboring countries. There is also a direct relationship between geopolitical factors and human factors affecting border security; but the intensity of this relationship varies among variables.