نشریه مطالعات راهبردی جهان اسلام
سال یازدهم شماره 2 (پیاپی 42، تابستان 1389)

Following expansion of Islamist activities in the Middle East since the beginning of 1980's, many theories were made to describe and explain this phenomenon. The next wave of studies in this field began since the early 1990's after the transformations, which Islamist currents experienced. The purpose of Islamism analysts was to understand how and why Islamism expanded and transformed, especially in the Middle East and North Africa. With these theories and their characteristics, this paper tries to classify these theories according to their approaches toward examining Islamism phenomenon. Accordingly, four approaches named thought approach, historical and sociological approach, regional-international approach and combined approach have been proposed, and then writings and views of experts in this field have been put under the division of the first three approaches. Although this paper is in a descriptive mode, it can be a basis for identifying and differentiating the existing theories and their possible relationship with each other.

A large part of the international conflicts that are currently continuing under the name of so-called "war against terrorism" sparks a chain of sequential violence and there is no end for it in a predictable future. One part of this global front is radical jihadist groups who are seeking their own ideological goals and ideals through the violent means and methods. In this regard, the important question is the causes of Islamic radicalism's resort (Al-Qaeda, Taliban and ...) to the very violent behaviors and its insistence on continuation of these behaviors.
For answering this question, this research analyzes behaviorology of radicalism through utilization of psychological and anthropological theories and with relying on the results of the field studies, which challenge the current analyses, analyzes the model of radicalism's behavioral analysis. According to this model, if "motivation" (arousal of identity, frustration, foreign intervention and ...) and "attitude" (ideology, mentality and cognitive framework ...) become provided in environment-human context, would lead to the radical and violent "action".
In fact, according to the aforementioned model as an idea-centered model, behaviorology of radicalism is dependant to the sum and the combination of psychological elements, and highly politicalized ideas and mentalities, which provides motivation, determination and capability necessary for doing violent action.

Eurasianism emerged as the intellectual paradigm of early twentieth century in the region, and intellectuals from Russia, Turkey, Kazakhstan and Tatarstan wrote about it many subjects, and with their own interpretations of Eurasia, they increased range of regional contradictions (at least in the theoretical field). This paradigm lost its theoretical position in 1930, but after the Soviet collapse, a new spectrum of Eurasianism was emerged in the region especially in aforementioned countries. These Neo-Eurasianists, in addition to avoiding previous Eurasianists's romantic and nationalistic interpretations, have provided a true understanding about identity of Eurasia in such an atmosphere, "Islam" as a core element of Eurasia's identity has been the focus of attention.
Although Neo-Eurasianists have gained opportunities to turn their theory to official policy of their governments, considering their presence in different layers of political and cultural systems, they are influential in their government's political strategy. Especially in recent years, which there have been convergence among the region's Eurasianists, new scenes of mutual acceptance among their governments are visible. In addition, with continuing this process, Eurasianism's paradigm would show its capabilities practically.

while "Afghanistan's violent project" is becoming one of the long wars in the history, understanding its processes and events is considered as a fundamental cornerstone to the oncoming future in this field. In this context, the key question is understanding the nature of US activism based on its withdrawal and presence continuation in Afghanistan and the way of their realization. The purpose of this paper is providing a response based on the scene's realities and its actor's overt and covert actions. Understanding the US behavioral logic, which has been based on "American peace image" and US dominance on the peace resulted from it in many times and places, has been chosen as a conceptual framework for US behavior. Also based on it, US strategic goals and intentions in Afghanistan and the conditions governing the battlefield have been reexamined. Relying on these methods and principles, there are several options before United States in Afghanistan: "short term presence of combat troops and continuation of long term presence of other forces in the form of military bases on Afghanistan soil", "agreement and reconciliation with the Taliban and power division with moderate spectra", "expansion of the war to peripheral regions in Afghanistan", "accepting defeat and full withdrawal from Afghanistan and beginning of the civil war" and so on.

Iran and Pakistan relations are considered one of the most important aspects of these two countrie's foreign policy. Iran was the first country, which recognized the independence of Pakistan. Also after the Islamic Revolution in Iran, Pakistan was the first country, which recognized the Islamic Republic of Iran. This action shows that in diplomacy of Tehran and Islamabad, the relations between these two countries (regardless of the nature of their politics and government) have particular importance. However, almost after the Islamic Revolution of Iran, a new variable named "Islamic radicalism" has affected their relations and it has led to vicissitudes in their relations.
The major question is what impact Islamic radicalism has had on the relations between Iran and Pakistan? The hypothesis of this paper is that Islamic radicalism has led to the divergence between Iran and Pakistan. Based on the findings of this paper, if Islamabad does not control extremism in Pakistan, this phenomenon will have negative effects on Pakistan's relations with one of the key regional states, namely Iran.

Issues of "Jewish minority" and its role within the internal factors and foreign variables, which have affected US foreign behavior, are considered the most sensitive issues in the area of politics and governance in this country. Although US legal structure has created an appropriate basis for emergence, empowering and influencing pressure group's influencing (or influential groups) on the internal or external decision-making system, the role-playing pattern of Jewish lobby and Israel's defending lobby has special features. In this paper we tried, based on historical and theoretical (practical) analysis, to examine evolution process in their way of being influential as a minority; this process has started from the immigration period to United States and gradually has proceeded to get citizenship status and to have influence in the power context.

For centuries, Al-Azhar University has played active role as the most important base for Islamic sciences and learnings in the Islam world. With passing of the time, different events and circumstances have led this great religious institution to admit extensive scientific, religious, political and social roles. Therefore, Al-Azhar University cannot be considered merely as a religious school or a department of rational and narrative sciences.
Due to the importance of scientific-religious centers in Islam world and their deep influences and comprehensive role in Islamic societies, this paper examines various aspects and quality of Al-Azhar University's role and also its status in the religious-sectarian, political-social and scientific manifestations through explanatory approach.