Quarterly Journal of West Asia Political Research

Abstract Modernity, with its distinctive features, postmodernism with its corrective stance, and religion with its normative and behavioral framework, represent three competing spheres of order—Westphalian, postmodern, and Islamic—that continue to shape contemporary thought. Each seeks to impose its own cultural and political system on human society. While modernity, through its innovations and new intellectual paradigms, is not inherently incompatible with Islam, it nonetheless calls for an Islamic approach capable of generating dynamic mechanisms to meet the needs of Muslims and to foster more resilient and inclusive modes of thought. Such an approach can enhance the scope for free action and independent reasoning among Muslims. This study aims to explore the modern world and its philosophical underpinnings, as well as their implications for the lives of Muslims and the peoples of the East. The findings suggest that the encounter of contemporary Islamic societies with Western civilization has produced numerous setbacks and challenges. Intellectual dilemmas, alongside economic, cultural, and social disruptions, largely stem from the foundational principles of modernity, including anthropocentrism, reductionism, identity erosion, nihilism, consumerism, secularism, environmental degradation, and Westernization. These influences are evident in the social, political, and ethical dimensions of both individual and collective Muslim life. Employing a descriptive-analytical method, this research seeks to provide balanced and pragmatic strategies for addressing these challenges.

Abstract Intrastate wars involving non-state armed groups (NSAGs) are becoming an increasingly common form of violent conflict. How water is used conflict is therefore an important area of research. While previous research has traditionally viewed the use of water by NSAGs as a military tool, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) instrumentalised water for a range of reasons which has not been examined in previous research. This paper addresses this gap by analysing the range of violent and non-violent means ISIS used to instrumentalise water for both state-building and military ends, linking this to the rebel governance cycle. Secondary literature analysis and thematic analysis are used to identify patterns in ISIS’ instrumentalisation of water within pre-existing literature. This is conducted in conjunction with two case studies: water governance and control of dams between 2014 and 2018. This paper finds that ISIS primarily instrumentalised water in three ways. Firstly, ISIS monopolised and institutionalised control over water services to build legitimacy as a state-like actor, symbolised by their control over dams. Secondly, ISIS used water to demarcate the territorial and demographic boundaries of their ‘alternative’ state, managing water supply to specific groups and controlling dams to flood or redirect water. Thirdly, as their territorial control became increasingly under threat, ISIS instrumentalised water through ‘scorched earth’ tactics, abandoning their governance of water entirely from 2016. These findings suggest that a new hybrid understanding of how NSAG’s interact with water (and other resources and built infrastructure) is needed to better analyse their dynamic and varying behaviour and priorities.

Abstract Undoubtedly, ideology is one of the main influential elements in the foreign policy countries. The emergence and formation of the Taliban's ideology has had a major and important impact on the developments Afghanistan's foreign policy, and Iran's relations with its eastern neighbors are very important. Iran-Afghanistan relations as bilateral relations are affected many factors. The presence of countless Afghan immigrants in Iran, the issue water, drugs, and the economic and political relations these two countries have caused many and downs during different eras, which with the re-appearance of the Taliban in political power Afghanistan, can seriously damage the relations between two countries. to impress. The main problem of the research; The analysis of the effective and stable factors in Iran-Afghanistan relations in the recent period of the Taliban's rise to power. The research method in research descriptive-analytical and the method collecting data library and internet. While many analyzes point the political, military, security, historical and geopolitical factors in the future of Iran-Afghanistan relations, although complete ideological integrity was characteristic of the first period the Taliban, new period of Taliban based internal and external factors, ethnicity and ideology. has turned into two groups with different intellectual origins and has distanced itself from ideological unity. This ideological duality is an important and influential factor in Iran-Afghanistan relations in the new Taliban era.

Abstract Climate change is considered one of the greatest threats to human life and has the potential to change international politics in an unprecedented way. This article examines the objective factors that have led to climate change being considered as a security issue in political arenas and by various institutions and organizations, and how specific representations of climate change have influenced political debates, policies, and practices. In response, it should be said that climate change has had significant security implications by changing people's livelihoods in different regions of the world and intensifying poverty. This factor, along with the constructive power of securitization, has led to climate change being considered as a security issue. Also, with the entry of climate change into the political arena and its securitization, international politics has moved towards adopting solutions to reduce carbon dioxide at the individual and collective levels. The discussions of this article analyze the process, reasons, and consequences of the securitization of climate change in a descriptive-analytical manner.

Abstract The main aim of this study is to explore the most important features of the Iranian political economy in the reformist government (1997-2005) and compare them with the features of the Leftwich's developmental state. The existence of developmental elites, bureaucratic power and institutional ability, the independence of the state from social classes, the existence of a controlled civil society, and a suitable international context for the development of the country are the five features of Leftwich's developmental state. Such a state believes in revolution from above and the priority of economic development over political-cultural development. The findings of the study show that the most important features and propositions governing the reform state and its elites were: political development, cultural pluralism, human rights and democracy discourse, social freedom, de-escalation in foreign policy, reformism and modernization in various fields, and reliance on the modern middle class. The reformist government prioritizes political-cultural development and bottom-up reforms, which is the opposite of the developmentalist state. The reformist government is somewhat similar to Leftwich in terms of the variables of the international context and bureaucratic power, but has serious differences with Leftwich's government in terms of the variables of the independence of the government from all classes and the special relationship with the capitalist class, civil society, and the elite's view of development.

Abstract  
 
The public policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the field of foreign policy, especially in the West Asian region, has always been influenced by geopolitical, security, and ideological considerations. One of the most important areas of this policymaking is the developments in Syria and its position in regional equations. The Syrian crisis and the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s government have had far-reaching consequences for Iran’s security and regional influence, and the reaction of Western countries has also added to the complexity of these conditions. This article, focusing on the “balance of interests” approach, examines Iran’s strategies in dealing with these developments. The research findings show that Iran, by utilizing tools such as soft balancing, regional coalition building and support for proxy forces, multi-level and multilateral diplomacy, limited military measures aimed at deterrence, media diplomacy and rational representation in global public opinion, has tried to maintain its position in the axis of resistance and regional equations while reducing security threats from Western powers. Iran's approach focuses on the use of low-cost and flexible tools rather than relying on hardware balancing and direct military spending. Accordingly, Iran's foreign policy towards Western countries in the process of developments in Syria has been redefined based on maintaining national security and consolidating regional influence through multi-faceted and low-cost strategies.