Understanding Social Capital in the Defensive School (Ideology) of Imam Khamenei in the Light of the Declaration of the Second Phase of the Revolution

One of the most important issues in respect to a country is its security and defense against different threats. In the past, the security of a country was measured only by its military power and weapons and military supplies but today military equipment does not contain security alone but using other equipment such as soft power can establish security and defend against threats. This new dimension of power which its literature has been theorized by Western scholars like Joseph Nye, however, the foundation of the Imam Khomeini movement did not attain victory except by utilization of these social and cultural components which today emerge in the form of the soft war. Today, it is inevitable for Islamic Republic of Iran considering its significant strategic and geo-politic position to strengthen the soft power dimensions while strengthening the different dimensions of hard power (military and economic power). One of the most important components governing soft power is the social capital which Imam Khamenei with true explanation accurate use and comprehensive knowledge of the moods and culture of public opinions especially youths has implied to as a bridge for the development and victory of the Islamic Revolution. The importance of this category, to a certain degree, is that the success of communities, persons, and somehow the society’s achievements depend on. With this approach, the present paper with a descriptive-analytic method with understanding the declaration of the second phase of the Revolution interpreted the concept of social capital in the defensive school of Imam Khamenei. The determination of the Revolution’s nature and its social capital in the next 40 years in the declaration of the second phase of the Revolution is an attempt to stabilize and strengthen the defensive components of stable security that finally results in the creation of the new Islamic civilization with applying an Islamic-Iranian model of progress.