The Status and Role of Basij in I.R.I Approach to Soft War

Just as identity and cultural conflicts have become significant, and soft war has been increasingly resorted to after 9/11 in America’s imperialistic logic in countering the world of Islam, the concepts and structures of power, security, threat, warfare and defense have undergone a fundamental change. In such an atmosphere, security threats have progressed in all levels such that they have challenged the software infrastructures of national security management, remarkably decreasing the possibility of threat management. It follows that achieving success in the area of countering soft threats requires a strategy of total defense. In total defense, coordination in the area of policy making, both administrative and punitive, is carried out on the basis of a specified fundamental strategy which links spheres of soft and hard power, creating a convenient mix in the form of an intelligent management. This mix strengthens the chances of creating a full control over the process of soft security production, while increasing capabilities and capacities. In fact, today, the strategy of total defense constitutes the most effective means for countering the soft threats adopted by the enemies of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Using the theoretical framework of soft security and the strategy of total political defense, the present article answers the question of “What role does Basij play in strengthening the foundations of soft security, and of engaging in the total defense of the Islamic Republic of Iran?” In this article, the hypothesis is that due to its having political, social, economic, and cultural functions in the society, Basij enjoys a very important status in producing soft security for the regime, and has a share in the success of the strategy of total defense, because it is one of the most important sources of social assets and political integrity.