The Impact of Oil Dependent Political Economy on Iran’s National Security
Subject Areas :
Seyed Shamseddin Sadeghi
1
(
Assistant Professor of Political Science, Razi University.
)
Masoud Akhavankazemi
2
(
Assistant Professor of Political Science, Razi University
)
Vahid Zarafshan
3
(
M.A. of Political Science, Razi University
)
Keywords: national security, Economic security, Oil, Political Economy,
Abstract :
Abstract In the decentralized international system and the non-existence of central authority, the first objective and priority of states is safeguarding national security and preservation of their interests. Since olden times preservation of durable national security was conditioned to preparedness in three fields: 1.Military preparedness 2.Political strength. 3. Economic strength. By the end of Cold War the economic determinant of national security found greater importance. During post-Cold War era, national security of the oil exporting countries depends on boom and flourishing of oil industry. In fact security is having five dimensions viz. military, economic, political, cultural and ecological. The present article addresses economic dimension of national security because achieving national security depends on improvement of economic conditions and the outcome of all security indexes depends on accomplishment of economic security. The obvious fact that the oil factor which Iran depends on its revenue for the past hundred years is interwoven greatly with Iran’s national security shows the importance of oil revenue. Also the economic growth of Iran and the bulk of investment in national projects depend on foreign exchange revenue coming from oil export. Any fluctuation in oil revenue will jeopardize the economic security of Iran particularly that in recent decade international sanctions has badly affected the flow of oil revenue.