نشریه مطالعات سیاسی
پیاپی 29 (پاییز 1394)

This paper¡ based on the approach of paradigmatic trying to rotate and change from modern political modernization paradigm to postmodernism discuss it. The formation of such a change of objective factors (economic¡ social and political changes) and subjective (epistemological changes) can contribute. This research focuses on subjective factors and assuming a combination of science and politics¡ and to link these two areas believes that a result of changes Epistemological happened in recent decades (especially from 1970 onwards)¡ political paradigms have been marked changes. So that a result the transition from the positivism to era of Post positivism¡ Political paradigm from structuralism and the central state toward pluralism and the opposition to the state has moved. A result these changes practice and political action has also undergone a profound transformation¡ because the power and politics as the main concepts from the state have been landing in all layers of society are current. This research attempts to show how the paradigmatic changes that have occurred in the field of epistemology¡ political paradigm change and activities¡ and political practice¡ not just in terms of political parties but also in the context of the new social movements have ability to plan and discuss. The basic assumption of this paper is that the transformation of the human sciences¡ including political science is in connection with the Paradigmatic changes epistemological and methodological.

This paper tries to discuss the nature of Iran and Saudi Arabia''s competition in Syria by employing descriptive-analytical approach. Saudi Arabia believes that Iranian action in Syria is associated with the project of Shiite Crescent¡ Thus they will see Iran as a threat for their future influence in the region. Thus¡ the main research question is what is Semantic significance of Syrian crisis for two competing discourses? The proposed hypothesis in this paper is that the perusing contradictory objective and interests by two involving parties are the main grounds leading to hostility between two nations. Findings show that conflict between two nations is grounded in contradictory objectives held by two parties in the region as a whole and in Syria in particular. Findings also show that¡ based on power politics framework¡ each of two nations try to increase and solidify their power and that of their allies in the region and be the dominant force.

Ukraine crisis occurred in November 2013¡ when President Victor Yankuvich decided not to sign economic agreement with European Union. Due to this decision¡ civil strife started. The United States¡ Russia and western European countries intervention made the crisis widespread¡ thus the regional and international security was influenced by this event. In this paper¡ emphasis is placed on the on the pattern of amity and enmity¡ countries typology¡ and the influence of great powers as the factors determining the Ukraine crisis and its impact on the general security of Black Sea and the region. Russia¡ as a mighty and the dominant state of the region¡ considers the region as its sphere of influence thus any outside intervention in the political affairs of the region perceived as threat to its security and dominance. This paper¡ by employing descriptive- analytical approach as its tool of investigation¡ has reached the conclusion that Ukraine crisis has various dimensions to it including Geopolitical¡ Geo-Economics and the question of national identity.

Theory of constitutional government is a theory which is developed gradually in response to new questions that raised proportional to new era and its necessities. Most important of these questions are realm of governmental power and people liberties¡ place of people in societal management and legislation¡ structures of distribution of power and control. Clergy presented a group of resistance to arbitrary political actions taken by Qajar Kings. Generally¡ the clergies were divided into two different political forces. The first group of clergy opposed constitutional government because they believed that constitutional government was incompatible with Islam. And the second group was pro-constitutional government. The most important personality of recent group is Allameh Mirza Mohammad Hosein Naeini. He had special impact in this era. Generally¡ religious authority and political votes in defense of constitutional government were reasons that Naeini became famous. We can consider Naeini as inflection point because he could create changes in political thinking of shitte. He made an effort to theorize about the establishment of constitutional government in his writings. He actually tried to prove and evaluate the bases of acceptable government in the absence period according to the verses and traditions and sectarian viewpoint¡ and reply to objections and doubts of constitutional opponents. Aim of this paper is evaluation of juridical ratiocination of Naeini in defense of constitutional government and reason of its incumbency¡ necessity and legitimation from the viewpoint of Naeini. This paper also took a brief overview of the context and historical circumstances that had an impact on the constitutional revolution and of the intellectual constitutionalist clergy and traditionalist clergy.

The present study aims to explain the process of political development in the Islamic Republic of Iran and the role of social classes in this process. In particular¡ the role of middle class in the developmental process is examined. In providing answer to the role of middle class as pioneering force in the political development a descriptive-analytical method was employed as the tool of analysis. Theoretical framework for class analysis is based on the opinions of modernization scholars. The status of middle class is taken as independent variable and political development as dependent variable.

International system after the Peace Conference of Westphalia on nation-state border brought about abundant countries in political map of the world and caused increasing disintegration between these units. Nevertheless¡ in the recent decades¡ integration of nation states especially among neighboring countries has increased. Iran and Afghanistan as neighbors are no exception to the rule. This paper uses documentary method in gathering data and descriptive-analytic method is employed to investigate data. The results indicate that because of absence of powerful and sustainable national government in Afghanistan several factors such as great powers¡ ethnicity¡ religion¡ ideology¡ drugs and Helmand’s hydro politics have played mainly the role of disintegration. Similarity of language¡ religion and geographical factors has not produced much of enthusiasm for increasing integration between two neighboring countries. Nevertheless¡ international nationbuilding in Afghanistan after September 11¡ 2001 event could bring about peace¡ security and relative stability in Afghanistan¡ however it created problems for Iran’s sovereignty and security.

Public participation which is usually concomitant to the distribution and transfer of power is considered by some quarter to be the most important elements of legitimacy. The right of public political participation and implementation of policies by publically elected institutions is the hallmark of political development. Also¡ universal franchise and public political participation means selfdetermination¡ and independence which provides legality and legitimacy to the political system. To achieve universal suffrage and political participation in a fair and free election it is necessary to rethink and change the cultural¡ economic¡ social and political infrastructures. However¡ to bring about such major changes and restructuring of social institutions poses some immediate threat to the stability of political system which may lead to political decay rather than political development. The objective of this paper is how political system should go about bring changes to its intuitions with maintaining its stability and legitimacy.

The change in the concept of power that some describe as “Soft Power”¡ is used as a method of analysis in international politics and as an instrument of utilizing foreign policy of states. Soft Power is a new model based on synonymous concepts like influence¡ authority and legitimacy. This type of power is the power of conducting¡ attracting¡ persuading and framing agenda. Today using the soft power in domestic and foreign policy has been emphasized more than the past. Earlier conceptualizations about soft power were based on elements such as culture¡ political values and popular foreign policy. Author analyzes the political elements of soft power in Islamic Republic of Iran from a descriptive-analytical approach. Findings of the research show that having popular political values (such as divineness¡ morality and justice)¡ charismatic leadership¡ political legitimacy on the basis of religious democracy model and popular foreign policy on the basis of antihegemonic discourse together with an effective diplomacy¡ Islamic Republic of Iran has high potentials of political elements of soft power in the regional level and Islamic World.