فصلنامه مطالعات راهبردی
سال هفدهم شماره 4 (پیاپی 66، زمستان 1393)

The paper aims at studying the concept of security according to the latest security schools. Indeed، the latest security schools، namely، the English School، the Copenhagen School، the Paris School، the Wales School and the Post-Colonial School are those schools of security that fall in this category. In this way، the author studies “the reference of security” based on the said schools and consequently he compares those schools’ ontology، epistemology and methodology. As findings of the study reveals the reference of security is different to those schools and for each of them are as follows: the English School، individual/ state; the Wales School، individual/ people; the Copenhagen School، state/ community; the Paris School، society or political community; and finally، the Post-Colonial School، the southern subordinates

The Islamic Republic of Iran has gone through several security periods. Enjoying the methodology of “discourse analysis”، this paper discusses the component and impacts of discourses which were prevailing، in Iran، during President Ahmadinejad’s era. Therefore، the main hypotheses of the paper is: the prevailing discourse of President Ahmadineja’s administration was to return to a revolutionary contraction and expansion that was realized by new elements in a different context and amongst the Islamic and the Revolutionary values، the idea of “Islamic Justice” was highlighted more than others. Thus، the paper concludes that although President Ahmadinejad’s administrations have been successful in achieving peaceful nuclear technology، expansion of relations with some Latin American countries، however، it ended up with new problems like referring the Iran nuclear dossier to the UN Security Council، expansion of international sanctions and consensus against the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The paper intends to use Manuel Castells’ model as introduced in his book entitled “Communication Power” - networks of mind and power based on body language and neurology studies conducted by Antonio Damasio and cascade activation model done by Robert Entman to study the Americans in support of the war against Iraq with lack of required evidence and logic – to study the US exploitation of the media in achieving success with regards to Iran’s nuclear program. Therefore، the main hypothesis states that the USA had made a lot of efforts to capture minds of its people and so to introduce Iran’s nuclear activities a threatening factor and by this effort to disrupt those activities. The period to be studies covers the American relevant activities before President Obama takes power in the country.

The economic and financial crisis in 2008، past to a degree، has had profound effects over the US economy and global economy. The paper shows that the crisis proved and exacerbated the weak points of the US power while it improved status of new emerging powers; and finally new changes in the international economy caused great changes in the US foreign policy. One of these changes is lessening the Middle East importance in the US foreign policy. The inclination not to intervene has led for policy of balance of power to be realized and so the US regional allies have been free to do so and thus extremism and terrorism have been improved in the region.

Although the Israeli government has a secular nature، Zionism is increasingly prevailing its internal and external affairs. Using the theory of securitization، the paper addresses religious Zionism orientation، as belief of minority but with strong voice، of the Israeli government with increasing status which in turn is a result of identity crisis and security vulnerabilities; so it has been the dominant and comprehensive discourse of the country and has been successfully radicalized its foreign policy. In this way، Netanyahu''s administration has been opposing establishing a Palestinian government and increased pace settlements with no restrain from use of violence against the defenseless people of Palestine. Implementing this policy، Israel is not taking peace lover position anymore and has adopted an intrusive approach against its peripheral environment. Although this policy may lead to more convergence in short term in Israel، however، in midterm، it can result in more isolation and vulnerability of Israel.

From 1947 until end of 1980s، India had taken a third world orientation in its foreign policy; however، it has consequently inclined towards economic pragmatism. Therefore، the question is that what reasons have led India towards this change. In response، the author raises the hypothesis that: demise of ethical orientation; growth of nationalistic views، realism and liberalism in the country، structural changes of the international system and replacement of bi-polar system with a uni-polar one and finally the Chinese military and economic rapid growth have cause the said change in the Indian foreign policy. This paper illustrates the reasons and uses the theory of balance of interests.