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Strategic culture and Iran’s foreign and defense policy towards the ballistic missile program

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Resumo:While arguing that Iran's defense policy pillars are built upon Shia provisions, the present contribution sets out to investigate how the main Shia principles have been informing the development and employment of strategic culture of Iran, underpinning the employment of Iran’s strategic weapons and in particular Iran’s ballistic missile program (BMP). It is argued, accordingly, that Iran's approach to the BMP is inseparable from qisas (retaliation), while obeying the overarching principle of maslahat; but also characterized by the varying importance of the principles zarare aghall, ezterar and nafye sabil. Drawing on the analytical framework which combines the Strategic Culture Theory (SCT) with the narrative analysis, this thesis explores the recent evolution of Iran’s ballistic missile program (BMP) (2015-2022). While Iran’s strategic culture dictates a key role for the BMP, it nevertheless allows for a particular room for maneuver. In this sense, the principles of Shi'a Islam form a particular discursive habitat in which Iran's strategic actions are framed and rationalized (something that also explains multiple and sometimes contradicting visions on the BMP in Iran). Against this background, the thesis demonstrates how Iran’s approach towards the program is enveloped by political discourses, shifting with the direction of Iran’s international relations and domestic politics.I distinguish two competing narratives, the ‘revolutionary’ originated from the principle of nafye sabil and the ‘moderation’ rooted in the principle of minimum loss, and demonstrate how they define the opportunities and constraints of Iran’s military behavior in two different ways. Moreover, I show a change towards a more confrontational approach, reflected in the consolidation of the ‘revolutionary’ narrative. This thesis contributes to a more fine-grained understanding of Iran’s policy towards its BMP, which remains central to Iran’s strategic culture.
Autores principais:Eslami, Mohammad
Assunto:Ballistic missiles Iran Strategic culture Ways of war Cultura estratégica Irão Mísseis balísticos Modos de guerra
Ano:2023
País:Portugal
Tipo de documento:tese de doutoramento
Tipo de acesso:acesso aberto
Instituição associada:Universidade do Minho
Idioma:inglês
Origem:RepositóriUM - Universidade do Minho

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