Examining the Security Policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran in West Asia Based on the Discourse Analysis Method

Abstract

The discourse analysis method is one of the qualitative methods in political studies, employed to explain semantic systems that lead to the formation of a particular understanding regarding the role of individuals or actors within society or the international environment. The primary objective of employing this analytical method is to examine the ways and mechanisms through which a semantic system and discursive framework make a specific action or policy possible. To date, numerous studies in the field of political science have been conducted using the discourse analysis method. The main goal of this research is to apply discourse analysis to explain the security policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran in West Asia. Accordingly, the central research question is: how can Iran's security policies in West Asia be explained through the lens of discourse analysis? In response to this question, the hypothesis of the study posits that the Islamic Republic of Iran has sought to define its security policies in the West Asian region through the construction of a discursive articulation that transcends political and geographical boundaries. This articulation, in turn, has led Iran to play a more active role in the targeted region. The findings of the study indicate that the central signifier of this discourse revolves around the cessation of meaning-making with reference to the nodal point of liberating Jerusalem and the anti-Israeli stance, viewing Israel as a usurping regime. The research methodology employed in this study is descriptive-analytical, based on discourse analysis. Data collection has been carried out through documentary and library methods, utilizing both accessible and credible physical resources such as books and electronic resources, including academic books and articles published in scholarly journals.