Position of the Culture of Self Sacrifice and Martyrdom as the Soft Power in the Doctrine of National Security of Islamic Republic of Iran

Scientists of political sciences and strategists categorize power into “Soft Power”? and “Hard Power”? from a particular point of view. They also believe that power has elements such as ideology, social factors, humanitarian factors, political factors, geographical factors, military factors and also economic factors.

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سه‌شنبه - ۰۹ فروردين ۲۰۱۰ / 2010 09 January

We should how ever notice to the fact that these elements include more detailed factors too. Some of these factors have been defined under the title of “Soft Power”? and some others have been described under the title of “Hard Power”?.
Since the western scientist are unfamiliar with concepts such as self sacrifice and martyrdom and consequently, they do not have any idea and knowledge about the culture of self sacrifice and martyrdom and also considering the fact that domestic writers and thinkers in this field do not attach very importance and value to this subject – and that is due to following the mental productions of the western people – then this very important subject has been forgotten in the scientific published works and even in the press of our country.
The issue of self sacrifice and martyrdom and changing it into a culture is a factor in all of these elements either “Soft Power”? or “Hard Power”?. And it has been neglected.
We should not forget the fact that this culture is a factor in the “Soft Power”?; but it is easily mixed with each of the mentioned factors and causes strengthening of that.
In case this culture is institutionalized in any of them, it will improve the position and status of that element in particular and the position of our country in general as far as defense and preventive power are concerned.
This article has been written aiming at showing the role and influence of the culture of self sacrifice ad martyrdom in each of the elements that form power, defense power and security power of Islamic Republic of Iran.
This article has been written also aiming at expressing the position of the culture of self sacrifice and martyrdom among the elements of power and finally the position of this culture in the doctrine of national security of Islamic Republic of Iran as well as security and strategic studies.

Written by: Javad Ali-poor,
MA University Student in “Imam Sadegh University”?