Cultural Influence in the Islamic Republic of Iran, Challenges and Strategies for Fighting against It from the View of the Supreme Leader (1989-2018)

This research is intended to investigate the issue of cultural influence in the view of the Supreme Leader and his solutions for it. This is a qualitative research whose data collection contains documentary method, and whose data analysis is carried out by qualitative content analysis and experts’ views. Having designed the theoretical framework, the researchers collected and analyzed the Supreme Leader's statements on the issue of cultural influence. The components encompassed the goals of influence, methods of influence, means of influence and the outcomes of influence. Then, the text of the statements as well as the components relating to their solutions, which had already been identified by content analysis, were offered to the experts to declare their agreement or disagreement and their order of priority. The solutions included enrichment of the intellectual bases, ideological protection, active presence in cyberspace, promoting national culture, compiling a map of Iranian-Islamic progress, feeling responsibility for creating a new Islamic civilization, identifying the instruments and obstacles of cultural activities in the country.