مجله رهیافت های سیاسی و بین المللی
سال چهارم شماره 2 (پیاپی 32، زمستان 1391)

Political thinkers have different ideas about the notion of freedom. These ideas have been analyzed by a number of political theorists. This paper pursues to explain S. H. Beheshti’s view on Freedom by invoking the progressive theory of freedom formulated by Cranston. Beheshti has elaborated on the notion of freedom as freedom from “ignorance”, “superstitions”, and also as having the right to choose and reach awareness.

Here we want to examine the philosophical aspects of human nature according to Farabi’s political philosophy. In this regard, it is necessary to survey his whole philosophical system that is an exploration in his metaphysics; natural and political philosophy. In this course, we will pay special attention to these six concepts: God and spirit in metaphysics; nature and animal in natural philosophy; and individual/communal dimensions in political philosophy. The political philosophy of Farabi will be examined on the ground of his philosophical construct, and his anthropology is on the basis of his theoretical philosophy. This article will begin by discussions about the metaphysical grounds of human being; then the natural principles of human beings; and lastly ends by human aspects in the field of political philosophy.

The Peripatetic philosophy emerged in Islamic culture. This philosophical system was based on the reason & revelation. It was described comprehensively and systematically so that gave the special meaning to the civil & political life. The particular view of The Peripatetic Philosophy to the political life, results the kind of political discipline & system and systematic plan & scheme of human being. It not only justifies the human life in ordered-world, but also contradistinguished the political life from other’s philosophical schools definitions. In this political philosophy, human can achieve the end which has been defined in that school. Of course, It will be executed by applying the wisdom & law (sharia), good and efficient plan, and political experience. Significant of reason in this school, offers it potency to justify the cognitive basses of the life and its end and answer to all basic questions for all time.

The issue of national defense always has been one of the main pillars of national security and a crucial constituent of a country’s political life and system. Accordingly, compiling a national defense strategy as a main framework of country’s defense design has more importance. From this perspective, national defense strategy is an important part of national security strategy to gain meaningful goals of national security, specially maintaining integrity, national independence, economic development and sovereignty. In this format, Islamic Republic of Iran, based on Geostrategic, economic, diplomatic, military, social and cultural situation has designed its overall national defense strategy. The main reference of overall defense term is one of the Imam Khomeini’s speeches. At 26/6/1367, he has emphasized on overall defense of Islamic authority. In this frame, overall defense strategy defined as one of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s national defense designs in the framework of prevention strategy, that regarding to change process in national defense environment and Iran’s Geostrategic situation, always has been proposed as a dynamic strategy. A clear confirmation of this situation could be seen in continuation of this strategy in national defense strategy’s designs. But this national defense strategy like the others, should be reviewed in different times that along with, overall defense strategy could be redefined intelligible regarding to Iranian-Islamic progress model in two fields of hardware defense and software defense. So, this article first tries to explain the importance of overall defense in the theoretical form of national defense strategy, then review the above mentioned strategy in the form of Iranian-Islamic progress model.

Violence and political extremism in various forms such as riots, protests, social turbulence, political violence and revolution, are the main issues in human life. The main question of this paper is what are the meaning of violence and political extremism? Which of psychological, social and political aspects, as the most important variables are involved in violence and political extremism? How we can explain violence and political extremism from theoretical and methodic approaches? Considering the importance of the issue, most political analysts and researchers have tried to discuss the individual and collective human behavior, underlying causes of extremism and political violence. Developing initiatives needed to analyze the conceptual areas of grounds that could be ‘why some people are inclined to violence and political extremism’. The most important issues that are discussed are effects of socialization processes of violence and political extremism, and finally conclusions will be discussed.

The pulchritude of religion in America is the reflection of two contrasting views regarding the quality of religious life in the society. Puritans who settled in New England believed in the regulation of religion in the framework of monopoly of a specific sect and official church sovereignty. They in the context of religious conformity desired the establishment of Christian Commonwealth. But in contrast, the residences of Virginia were disposed toward religious freedom in the context of competition among different religious sects. They desired a moral society and believed in the market of free religious ideas. The main question of this article is, in comparison with other Western countries, why religion enjoys such a vast credibility in America. From the beginning of the American Capitalist Society which was greatly influenced by the economic values of Adam Smith regarding the credibility of the market functions, presented the opportunity to the religious ideas to compete with each other and to be judged in the context of the market of competing ideas by the people. Compilers of the Constitution in view of presence of religious sects appreciated views of Jefferson and Madison which were dominant in Virginia and framed the Constitution based on the acceptance of legitimacy of competition and religious give and take.

The issue of power transition in international system has been analyzed from different perspectives. Power cycle theory and role that have been suggested for the first time by Charles Doran, describes and explains the mechanisms, causes, and the quality of transition from one structure to new structure on the basis of neo-realism. This theory states that countries in process of moving on their power cycle, were fouled to critical statuses that confuse space for rational decision making in particular section of history. In this special section, distance between power and actor role suddenly was closed, and policy-makers noticed abruptly that tid of history has been reversed. This theory considers an equal importance for the role and power in statecraft, but with this difference that power is constrained unilateral and the role requires mutual acceptance. Accordingly, the mentioned theory along with the creating an adjustment in classical realism, accepts certain viewpoints in explaining the existing international order. Based on this, the power of each actor is considered relative, so that it can be assessed in comparison with other actors. Increasing the power of each actor, increases its role expectancy and this power challenges other superior power; therefore, the paramount power will be confronted with several options to contend with challenger power and for hegemony continuing. It is believed that this theory with objectivity and pragmatic approach and its principles, has remarkable ability to explain the relations between superior global powers. In this research has been attempted to analyse the theory of power cycle and role, and explain its strengths and weaknesses.