The Transformation of National Security Discourses in the Islamic Republic of Iran

The purpose of the present study is to investigate the transformation of national security discourses in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Using descriptive analysis, this research study aims to critically explore the existing theories in this regard and come up with a new model to analyze the course of change in national security discourses in the Islamic Republic of Iran. In this regard, this perspective is emphasized that we have always witnessed the presence of two rival discourses in the realm of politics and among the elites such that the course of discourse change cannot be analyzed in a single developmental path. The two rival discourses have been classified by some into either traditional-modern or revolutionary-national. However, the analysis of them indicates that they can be regarded as either identity-oriented or development-oriented. In reality and practical form, development in the Islamic Republic of Iran has always been categorized within the arguments and measures of the two security discourses mentioned above so that it has led to opposite ideas and incongruous policy making to achieve long term security and developmental objectives in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Because of this, one of the main features of national security issues in the Islamic Republic of Iran is lack of common consensus among the elites on the concept of national security, security policies, threats, and vulnerabilities causing crisis at the time of two aforementioned discourses’ domination.