فصلنامه مطالعات راهبردی
سال سیزدهم شماره 3 (پیاپی 49، پاییز 1389)

The main question of this paper is the philosophy of security from the perspective of Imam Khomeini. Of course, he has not considered this issue as an independent subject in his works. Therefore, the author will answer the question using a deductive method. The said method is mainly relying on comprehension and analysis of the works of a thinker through his own school of thought. Thus the theoretical framework of quadruplet causes, derived from the Islamic philosophy, is the main supportive theory of this paper’s analysis, according to which, security as a new phenomenon has got four causes including material, formal, subjective and conclusive. Given the fact that Imam Khomeini’s school is Transcendent Wisdom, the author has attempted to provide an interpretation of application of this school in the field of security as well as to compare them with the current security theories.

The core issue in any security theory is the referent object of security. This is the case with respect to Imam Khomeini’s views on security too. Based on this assumption, the current paper is trying to recognize the nature of the referent object of security; in the mean time, it treats Imam Khomeini’s relevant views as a “speech act”. Because the author is of the view that not only Imam Khomeini was the security theorist of the Islamic Republic of Iran but he was its securitizing actor too. Within this framework, the author believes that the referent object of security in Imam Khomeini’s speech act is “Islamic Government” which comprises the followings: “Ideological Islam”, “Velayat Faqih” and the “People”.

There are many approaches for national security studies and the leaders and the people view national security from different perspectives. A consideration of these views can indicate this difference and the concerned priorities in dealing with security problems. Looking at Imam Khomeini views and thinking on several aspects of security, this paper’s main question is as follows: what was the view of Imam Khomeini regarding aspects of security and which security approach is closer to this view? To answer this question, the paper focuses on Imam Khomeini’s speeches, messages, interviews as well as his practices. Lastly, the findings are indicating that rather than the mundane aspect of security, the otherworld aspect was more important for Imam Khomeini and even within the mundane aspect, political aspect was more important for him.

This paper studies the political threat and vulnerability of national security from Imam Khomeini’s perspective. Enlisting a variety of political threats from the said perspective will show that his perception was so close to modern approaches rather than traditional ones. As for Imam Khomeini the domestic sources of insecurity was more important than external ones and also he did not believe that threats are only limited to military invasion by other states but due to the role of religion and the people in either strengthening or weakening the national security, for Imam Khomeini domestic unrest, taking distance from Islam, lack of political participation, alienation and dependence of the think tanks to foreigners are the main political threats against national security.

Idea and policy making with regard to resource and method of security practice is one of elements of any security theory. In this way, the national security strategy of the Islamic Republic of Iran is not an exception. Within the above framework, the paper is trying to comprehend the resource as well as security practices in Imam Khomeini’s thought; it attempts to illustrate his relevant approach too. Therefore, the author believes that the basic approach in Imam Khomeini’s spatial of thought is derived from his inside and is based on his anthropological deliberations. Thus, from Imam Khomeini’s view the pattern of security practice should be from inside to outside and from down to up for which the concrete and social- national translation is the “people centered pattern”.

The principles of classification and the boundaries of Islamic thought and political jurisprudence is drawn based on belief and accordingly, the world is divided in two territories Darulislam (land of Islam) and Darulkufr (land of infidelity). On the other hand, in the contemporary world, the Islamic countries are divided into too many nations. The way of compatibility between this division and the Islamic United Ummah has attracted the attention of many Muslim thinkers and they have offered some solutions to this dichotomy. Imam Khomeini believes that Islamic Unity is the solution for this problem. For him, if the Muslims throughout the world, inspired by the Islamic Revolution, are awaken (and acquire the Islamic truth) and put aside the minor and sectarian differences and establish an Islamic government, due to the proximity of their beliefs, rules and purposes such a close relationship will appear among them that a new entity will emerge as if only one government rules in the Muslim World.

The paper aims at analyzing the elements of national authority, in the field of foreign policy, based on Imam Khomeini’s doctrine and thinking. Utilizing documentary and descriptive methods, this paper examines the main hypothesis based on Imam Khomeini’s thinking. In fact, the paper shows how Imam Khomeini, as a politician and jurisprudent has raised the elements and general principals of national strength in the field of foreign policy. Based on the main elements of Shite social thinking, namely, “God Oriented” and “Task Oriented”, Imam Khomeini’s views in the field of foreign policy comprises the following components: Nafy –e- sabil (Denial of Rule of Infidels), Anti-oppression, Islamic Dignity and Religious Lordship, and Invitation to Muslim Unity.