فصلنامه راهبرد دفاعی
پیاپی 20 (تابستان 1387)

Strategic concepts have been profoundly affected by the 21st century developments. While during the Cold War era territory was the most important basis for the strategic and geo-political surveys, in the new century the military affairs have lost previous importance and they are replaced by new human and economic factors. So far, the geo-political knowledge has witnessed four discourses, including Colonialism, Cold War, New World Order, and Geo-culture & Environment discourses. Each of these periods had already recognized special threats and opportunities. This paper, while considering the main views of the above said periods, attempts to highlight geo-political significance of Iran.

The foremost source of income for the Iraqi government is oil, which comprises about 70% of its GDP and 95% of its total income. Therefore, any change in this realm by the occupier states will lead to a profound economic, security and political consequences not only in this country but also for other oil exporting states. This paper analyzes the content and regulations of the new bill of Iraq on oil, which the Iraqi Cabinet of Ministers has submitted to the Parliament to consider and ratify. It also evaluates probable consequences of this new bill. Findings of this paper indicate that ratification of this bill can benefit billions of Dollars, from the Iraqi wealth to the US and British companies. Furthermore, according to this bill foreign companies and their governments will be in control of the Iraqi oil, which, in turn, can increase instability in this country.

In fact, the security situation in the neighboring countries is one of the important factors affecting the security environment for every country. Therefore, new developments in Iraq, as a very significant neighbor of Iran should be considered very seriously. In this way, the author would like to state that presence of foreign troops, geo–political features and configuration of population and Iraqi energy sources have led it to a very special situation. These factors will continuously affect both Iran and Iraq. However, the region of Kirkuk, due to many reasons, has a special situation. While considering geo-politics of this region, the author of this paper discusses the influence and role of the Iraqi effective internal actors and finally concludes with probable implications of accession of Kirkuk to Kurdistan.

Function and also challenges ahead of many political units are derived from their geo-political situation and local characteristics. The Middle East region has many different geo-political and cultural characteristics and each of them have its own special needs and challenges. Since the very establishment of the Iraqi state, due to its geo-political weakness and sectarian trends, it has faced some severe geo-political challenges. After the recent US intervention and establishment of the new political system in Iraq, the Kurdistan region has found new roles to play. Of course, most of these achievements are subject to the Kurds cooperation with the US troops. However, this situation can grow to the extent that Kurds secure the US support and not to persuade a separatist orientation which is provocative for all regional countries. Otherwise, even these new achievements, especially with due account of the Kurdistan’s geographical location and population configuration, will face a severe challenge in the future.

Since a long time ago the Middle East has been one of the most strategic regions in the world. Therefore, the great powers have been attempting to have domination on this region. However, poor water resources of this region highlight the important value of water in this region. During the history, the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers, deriving from the Kurdish region in Turkey, Iran and to the some extent from Syria has been a vital water resource for these countries. This paper intends to answer the question that what kind of impacts the hydro-politics will have on the Kurdish issue in the future. The paper concludes with an important finding that regarding hydro-politics, the approaches of the regional and extra-regional powers, specially the USA, towards the Kurdish issue will be different from those of the 20th century and will have a strategic nature.

Border security means prevention of any kind of illegal act in the border area as well as legal transfer and transport of people, animals and goods with due respect to regulations and through authorized gates in the border. Many grounds and factors are effective in strengthening or weakening of border security, some of which are: natural factors (typography, climate), human factors (ethnic and religious configuration in border area), political factors (type and level of diplomatic relations with neighbor countries), economic factors (economic circumstances and welfare) and social factors (literacy, culture and public awareness of border residents). Thus, the author of this paper intends to survey on the most effective factors in weakening border security and therefore leading to border penetration and apply the findings on Eastern border of the Islamic Republic of Iran (Khorassan province).

The current elements and factors in the Persian Gulf sub-region have led to the onset of crisis, struggle, competition and armed conflicts among regional and international actors. Also in the aftermath of the Cold War, all signs of regional security in the Persian Gulf have replicated themselves within a new behavioral patterns and geo-politics of conflict. Therefore, regional security due to conflict of interests, narrow-minded expectations, dispute of attitudes and approaches is very much doubted. In fact, when some unexpected trends are appearing, nature of power and regional security changes. Therefore, interference of great powers in the regional affairs is a signal of disturbing regional security in the Persian Gulf. Having said that, some of the regional issues like territorial and border disputes, water crisis, ethnic, tribal and human issues, along with the Arab – Israeli dispute have exacerbated tension among the regional countries.