The Development of a Local Model of Soft Power Based on Psycho-Cultural Components of Basij

The present study was conducted with the aim of developing a local model of soft power based on the psycho-cultural components of Basij1. This is an applied research work, and with regard to identity and method, it is descriptive-survey and qualitative. The statistical population included experts, thinkers, university professors, researchers, policy makers and commanders in the fields of culture, soft power and soft war (General Staff of the Armed Forces, Basij and IRGC). From among them, a group of 50 were purposefully selected. The collected data were analyzed using PLS and SPSS software by structural equation modeling. The results show that all the three dimensions of the components including 1) beliefs, 2) values ​​and norms and 3) behaviors and symbols have been effective in developing the model of the cultural soft power of Basij. The order of the influence of the dimensions of the cultural soft power of Basij show that the component beliefs has the most points. The component ‘welayet orientedness’ with a score of 0.780 and the index ‘belief in the Hereafter (Resurrection)’ with a score of 0.995 have the highest scores and hold the first rank. The variable ‘beliefs’ directly and the two variables ‘values ​​and norms’ and ‘behaviors and symbols’ indirectly and through the variable ‘beliefs’ are involved in explaining the psycho-cultural soft power of Basij. Paying attention to the psycho-cultural components of this model is of great importance in the field of soft power-based effectiveness.