Number 36 Volume 10

Open Access Article

1 - Evolution in Saudi Arabia's Military Strategy: Backgrounds and Reasons
Nader Pourakhondi

Abstract: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is more known as an oil exporting state than a military power. Saudi Arabia have always been claiming as the leader of the Arab World and protector of the countries of Saudi Arabia Peninsula but its military force despite spending More

Abstract: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is more known as an oil exporting state than a military power. Saudi Arabia have always been claiming as the leader of the Arab World and protector of the countries of Saudi Arabia Peninsula but its military force despite spending considerable amount of money does not have the ability for playing a prominent role in Persian Gulf region’s developments but from 2003, especially after Arab Spring events it has improved its military capabilities and interferes in regional developments. The Saudi Arabia military entered Bahrain after the unrest in that country. At present the Saudi Arabia military forces simultaneously participates in two military operations i.e. air attack in Syria along with international coalition and air and land operation against the Houthies in Yemen. The present article wants to examine the reason of Saudi Arabia military doctrine change from defensive to offensive position. The hypothesis is that the changes which have taken place in security environment of Saudi Arabia have led this country to adopt an offensive military doctrine. The present article has used descriptive-analytical method. The finding of the study shows that the purpose of the change in the military strategy of Saudi Arabia is to contain the regional influence of Iran.    Manuscript profile

Open Access Article

2 - A Comparative Study of the Impact of Developments of Syria and Iraq on Regional Policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Turkey
mohammadjavad fathi elham rasooli milad khosravinezhad

Abstract: Nowadays regionalism is one of the requirements of active foreign policy. Keeping eyes on the developments in the peripheral region and their specific interest there guides the government to pursue suitable regional policies. Countries try to use their region More

Abstract: Nowadays regionalism is one of the requirements of active foreign policy. Keeping eyes on the developments in the peripheral region and their specific interest there guides the government to pursue suitable regional policies. Countries try to use their regional role and available opportunities to further their international position. Iran and Turkey as two regional powers and having important place among the Middle East countries are seeking to increase their regional role. The development which started from 2011 in Syria and later in 2013 in Iraq had great impact on regional policies of Iran and Turkey. The question raised by the present article is “what has been the impact of Syria and Iraq on regional policy of Iran and Turkey?” the hypothesis is “ the regional development in the said period have provided common opportunities and challenges for both the country and have strengthen the geopolitical look of Iran and Turkey”. The article has used Copenhagen framework named regional security suite theory and has categorized the opportunities and challenges in three determinants; namely mutual security interdependence, pattern of friendship and enmity and cultural and race affinities. The finding of the study shows that political, ideological and economic opportunities and security, economic challenges have strengthened the regional policy of Iran and Turkey after the said regional developments. The methodology used in the paper is descriptive-analytical Manuscript profile

Open Access Article

3 - The Relationship between Terrorism and the Right to Life in Light of the International Judicial Precedent
Marzieh Ghobadi Seyyed Mohammad Ghari Seyyed Fatemi

Abstract: The human right to life is one of the most fundamental and inalienable rights of the human beings. No other rights or freedom have such great emphasis and categorical support in international human rights documents like the right to life. In recent years figh More

Abstract: The human right to life is one of the most fundamental and inalienable rights of the human beings. No other rights or freedom have such great emphasis and categorical support in international human rights documents like the right to life. In recent years fight with terrorism has become one of the priorities of international community and the development of the subject in international law has been considerable. The question which is raised here is “what is the relation between the fight with terrorism and right to life?” Here some fundamental questions are raised “Whether on basis of international regulations use of lethal weapons against the suspects in terrorist activities?” Is the purposeful killing of the terrorist leaders is conforming to international human rights regulations? Whether the death of the terrorist in jail does blame the governments with breach of human rights violation? Whether the execution of those involved in terrorist operations is against human rights regulations? The present article by reviewing the international legal precedent come to the conclusion that although the fight against terrorism can lead to certain legal and legitimate violation of life to right but the instances which legally can violate the right to life is very limited and rare. Therefore as a general rule for the fight against terrorism those mechanism should be used which do not violate the right to life. The human rights courts and tribunals have repeatedly insisted that right to life preside all other values in human society, including the fight against terror. The methodology used in the paper is reviewing the verdicts of international human rights courts.   Manuscript profile

Open Access Article

4 - The United States Media policy against Russia: Hollywood and New Cold War and Revival of Russia Phobia
Bashir Esmaeil Seyed Hassan Malaekeh

Abstract: During the Cold War besides arms and ideological competition between the United States and Soviet Union which was based on balance of power, the United States supremacy in cultural production especially in the form of Hollywood cinema was used as a soft war ag More

Abstract: During the Cold War besides arms and ideological competition between the United States and Soviet Union which was based on balance of power, the United States supremacy in cultural production especially in the form of Hollywood cinema was used as a soft war against the latter. After the disintegration of Soviet Union, gradually the focus of media war of the United States changed from communism to Islam and the Middle East region. This trend was intensified after September 11, 2001 incidents. A large wave of cultural products was produced with Islam phobia content. Meanwhile by the expansion of the influence of Russia in some regions of the world and formation of a new balance of power and rivalry which some observers interpreted it as new Cold War, the media war of America against Russia has been revived. The main question raised by the article is whether the developments in relations of the United States with Russia have affected media policy of America against Russia?” The finding of the study shows that after some of Russia’s success in strategic places of the world the United States media policy after a period of propaganda against Islamist and the Muslims they are now focusing on Russia phobia policy. The methodology used in the paper is comparative and interpretative. Manuscript profile

Open Access Article

5 - The Iraqi Kurdistan Developments and its Impact of the National Security of Islamic Republic of Iran
asghar bayat null null null null

Abstract: The Iraqi Kurdistan region is one of the important regions of the Middle East due its unique geopolitics. This region after the fall of Saddam (2003) and the formation of autonomous government have witnessed several events and developments which have had thei More

Abstract: The Iraqi Kurdistan region is one of the important regions of the Middle East due its unique geopolitics. This region after the fall of Saddam (2003) and the formation of autonomous government have witnessed several events and developments which have had their impact on the security of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The present article has paid attention to Iraqi Kurdistan developments for two reasons. First due to presence and activities of regional and extra-regional powers in Iraqi Kurdistan after the fall of Saddam, second the spread and strengthening the Kurdish nationalism in Kurdish residing regions of Iran. The consequences of these events are the expansion of the ethnic demands and expectation of Iranian Kurds from the central government and the possibility of disintegration from Iranian central government with foreign backing. Therefore, the present article by futures studies method wants to answer the question as to “what are the impacts of Iraqi Kurdistan developments on security of the Islamic Republic of Iran?” The hypothesis is that the Iraqi Kurdistan developments particularly the presence of regional powers there and in areas near Iranian borders and the presence of Kurdish groups who are against Iran can provide a disfavor able ground for measures against the national security of Iran. Eventually in this regard four scenarios have been suggested for future of this issue in the Middle East. Manuscript profile

Open Access Article

6 - The Impact of Money Laundering on Expansion of Organized Terrorism in the Middle East (2001-2016)
سید سعید میرترابی mohsen keshvarian

Abstract: The expansion of terrorism and its widespread occurrence particularly the organized one had led researchers to deeply study the roots, causes and the ways to contain it. Since the Middle East region is one of the centers which terrorism has grown considerably More

Abstract: The expansion of terrorism and its widespread occurrence particularly the organized one had led researchers to deeply study the roots, causes and the ways to contain it. Since the Middle East region is one of the centers which terrorism has grown considerably, the present article wants to study the impact of money laundry as one of the factors that reinforces the terrorist groups in the Middle East. The article wants to answer this question that how money laundering helps the growth of organized terrorist groups (Al-Qaeda and ISISI) from 2001 to 2016. The hypothesis is that money laundering by providing a secure network for supplying major part of financial resources and external transections of organized terrorist groups with foreign partners has created the ground for the growth of organized terrorism in the Middle East from 2001 to 2016. The article shows the complexity and the dimension of money laundering techniques used by organized terrorist groups for financial transaction and money transfer. Therefore, there is a need for a comprehensive and common political will with the region and beyond the region to contain the challenge of money laundering by organized terrorist groups. This will be possible when the measures and mechanism decided for this purpose do not be used for political capital again certain countries in the region, a situation which unfortunately used by the Western Banks against Iran. The methodology used by the article is descriptive-analytical. Manuscript profile

Open Access Article

7 - Understanding Russian Think Tanks and their Approach to Iran's Internal and Foreign Policy
Farshad Roomi Syed Mohsen Al syed Gafur

Abstract: Think tanks are one of the centers in foreign policy of governments in a way that they theorize and formulate the strategy for action of governments. The think tanks are one of the important pillars of decision making. One of these think tanks is Russia&rsquo More

Abstract: Think tanks are one of the centers in foreign policy of governments in a way that they theorize and formulate the strategy for action of governments. The think tanks are one of the important pillars of decision making. One of these think tanks is Russia’s think tanks. They are having an undeniable role in defining Russia’s foreign policy. The purpose of the present article is to identify the well-known think tanks in Russia and their views about Iran's domestic and foreign policy. The main question raised by the article is "what is the perception of Russian think tanks about Iran? On which domestic and foreign policy issues do they focus? The underlying hypothesis is that "these think tanks centers have a pragmatic approach to the issue of interaction between Iran and Russia free of subjective and ideological bias. The most important preoccupation of these think tanks are reviewing Iran's political developments, identifying opportunities in Iran's economy and providing solutions for utilizing the capabilities of Iran's regional and global levels in the direction of Russia's foreign policy priorities. The research methodology used in the paper is descriptive-analytical. The finding of the study shows that the role of Russian think tanks are increasing in the process of decision making and they have strong influence on Moscow's foreign policy decisions towards Iran.    Manuscript profile

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