فصلنامه راهبرد دفاعی
پیاپی 28 (بهار 1389)

In soft power which is part of doctrines for new and contemporary security studies، it will be tried to secure the interests and control the threats through soft power. In this direction، liberalistic doctrines have a particular position in security studies and international relations. In fact، this approach، by changing beliefs، fundamental values، cultural identity and behavioral patterns of the target countries based its function principle on changes through soft power. With these measures، the ideology and current political pattern of the target country will be inefficient and the country will collapse. Today، confrontation and violence-centric approach، with the centrality of hard military measures، is replaced by software approach and soft war، and confrontation proved to be inefficient. In this article، in order to achieve a true understanding of West''s soft war، it has been tried to examine the nature، dimensions and characteristics of the soft war.

Soft discourse or softwarism in security-strategic studies can be considered in four general concepts of soft power، soft war، soft security and soft revolution. This discourse and the concepts derived from it became increasingly important or formed in the context of the information age، and its requirements such as informationization and networkization. Based on these assumptions، the paper tries to pay to the concept of soft discourse through providing an operational definition of four above-mentioned concepts and after that، reviews the effects of this discourse on the strategic environment. According to the author، these effects can be summarized in informationization، networkization، intangibility، the possibility of playing role by small countries، violence avoidance and identity-centric.

Soft power is one of the subjects which are considered by scholars during the last years. The nature of this kind of power is different from that of hard power. Experts supporting this kind of power believe by using power، the goals will be achieved by fewer expenses. The main proposition to the theory of soft power is that the players can achieve the desired results without using threat or tangible rewards. In this Article، the author has tried to challenge this theory be a critical approach. Therefore، after a brief introduction to this theory، the theory of soft power is discussed in five categories of «theory»، «definition»، «nature»، «resources» and «functions». The main finding of the article is that the principle in international relations and strategic discussions is hard power، and soft power can be complementary to hard power for states with significant physical capabilities.

The issue of velvet revolutions which was used in the literature of international relations in 1990s can be known as the fundamental change in America's behavioral patterns to control America regional and international environment. Since the nature of velvet revolutions formed with some signs of media movement and software patterns, thus velvet revolutions are classified within the framework of "soft war" theory. Software war is one of the "low-intensity Overthrow" patterns which Americans used it in the form of democratic literature. Experience of the countries subjected to these velvet revolutions, shows that this pattern was paid attention to through "public diplomacy" and provides influencing factors on political structure through advertising, media, social movements and democratic discourse.

The issue of velvet revolutions which was used in the literature of international relations in 1990s can be known as the fundamental change in America''s behavioral patterns to control America regional and international environment. Since the nature of velvet revolutions formed with some signs of media movement and software patterns، thus velvet revolutions are classified within the framework of «soft war» theory. Software war is one of the «low-intensity Overthrow» patterns which Americans used it in the form of democratic literature. Experience of the countries subjected to these velvet revolutions، shows that this pattern was paid attention to through «public diplomacy» and provides influencing factors on political structure through advertising، media، social movements and democratic discourse.

By examining the contradictions between the concepts of soft power and inspiration especially in ontological aspect، this article claims that regarding Iran''s ideology and fundamental values and the context in which Islamic Republic''s political system emerged and evolved، aspiration is more extensive and functional than the concept of soft power، although inspiration is not in conflict with soft power. These two concepts can be combined at methodological level، but have evident differences at the ontological level. The ultimate goal in soft power is applying power in a new method but in inspiration، power application is not the priority. In inspiration، inviting to the truth is the priority. Soft power finds meaning in the time context of modernity، but aspiration is not limited to a certain time and place. As far as we know، we can claim that application of aspiration in Islamic Republic''s grand strategy is far more than soft power، though the concept of soft power is ambiguous not only for the public but some politicians and administrators all over the world.

In this article it has been tried to examine some aspects of this emerging power. In this direction، after reviewing the defense-security strategy of China، the country''s approach to security environment have been studied، and after that، Beijing''s national defense strategy toward modernization has been discussed. China''s participation in regional and international processes and examining its economic and political power are the other issues discussed in this article. And finally it has been emphasized that China has chosen the strategy of gaining peaceful power without disrupting the existing international order.