Iranian Strategic Culture Ashee Buoncompagno

Iranian Strategic Culture
Ashlee Buoncompagno

Overall Iranians strategic culture hasn't been a pleasant development. From the beginning of Persian culture there has been betrayal and angst. In modern times Iran still holds on to these hostilities and has created a country embedded in religion beliefs and practices. The religious influence amongst Iran's political system sets them a part from the rest of the world especially when it comes to international relations. Iran's past and modern development is chaotic and concerning to their foreign adversaries. All of that being taken into consideration Iran will always be on the UN's radar not only because of their chaotic history, but because of their natural resources. Iran's oil and gas industry can and will prove prudent to other countries looking to out source.
Conclusion

An outright invasion of western powers and being exploited by British and Russian imperialist has not made a peaceful relationship between Iran and the West.
Many people stipulate about the cause of Iranian hostility toward the U.S., it is not unknown that the Iranian Revolution of 1979 caused a barrier between the two entities.
While Iran is proficient at receiving and interpreting U.S. messages, its fundamental hostility to the "Great Satan" mirrors its interpretation of US actions and intentions. [2]

Hostility
Ruhollah Khomeini, Islamic Government, (Arlington, VA: Joint Publications Research Service, 1979).
Willis, Stanely, The Strategic Culture of Iran, Comparative Strategic Cultures Curriculum
Contract No: DTRA01-03-D-0017, Technical Instruction 18-06-02

Iran's political ideology is rooted in Shia Islam; while obviously not the only sect of Islam, Shia is the national religion.
Iran that stresses the survival of the regime as the ultimate service to Islam.
" The regime is the embodiment of Shia Islam's authority on Earth and to abandon it would be to abandon the will of God." [1]
Given the integration of Shia Islam into the political system, the survival of the regime is to the core of Iranian nationalism.
Integration of Religion and Politics
Ruhollah Khomeini, Islamic Government, (Arlington, VA: Joint Publications Research Service, 1979).
Willis, Stanely, The Strategic Culture of Iran, Comparative Strategic Cultures Curriculum
Contract No: DTRA01-03-D-0017, Technical Instruction 18-06-02
Clawson, Patrick and Michael Rubin, Eternal Iran: Continuity and Chaos. (New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005
Ferdowsi, Abolqasem, Shahnameh: The Persian Book of Kings. (New York: Viking Press, 2006).
Halm, Heinz, Shia Islam: From Religion to Revolution. (Princeton, NJ: Markus Wiener Publishers, 1997).
Mackey, Sandra. The Iranians: Persia, Islam and the Soul of a Nation. (New York: Plume, 1996).
Sachedina, Abdulaziz Abdulhussein, The Just Ruler in Shi'ite Islam. (New York: Oxford University Press, 1988).
Ruhollah Khomeini, Islamic Government, (Arlington, VA: Joint Publications Research Service, 1979).
Willis, Stanely, The Strategic Culture of Iran, Comparative Strategic Cultures Curriculum
Contract No: DTRA01-03-D-0017, Technical Instruction 18-06-02
US Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration, Country Analysis Brief: Iran, January 2006. http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/Iran/Background.html
CIA - The World Factbook – Iran
Clawson, Patrick; Rubin, Michael(2005). Eternal Iran([Online-Ausg.]. ed.). New York: Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 31–32. ISBN 1-4039-6276-6
 Enderwitz, S. "Shu'ubiyya". Encyclopedia of Islam. Vol. IX (1997), pp. 513-14.

 Ashraf, Ahmad. "IRANIAN IDENTITY iii. MEDIEVAL ISLAMIC PERIOD"Encyclopedia Iranica.




References
Willis, Stanely, The Strategic Culture of Iran, Comparative Strategic Cultures Curriculum
Contract No: DTRA01-03-D-0017, Technical Instruction 18-06-02
CIA - The World Factbook – Iran


Geography
Iran is located in southwest Asia and borders the Gulf of Oman, Persian Gulf, and Caspian Sea. Its mountains have helped to shape both the political and the economic history of the country. [1]
Iran shares its northern borders with three post-Sovietstates: Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Turkmenistan. [1]
Even though the geographical boundaries appear to be clear Iran is still engaged in international territorial disputes including: Persian Gulf with Iraq and Greater and Lesser tunbs [2]

Sasanian Empire was the last Iranian empire before the rise of Islam, ruled by the Sasanian dynasty from 224 CE to 651 CE. The Sasanian Empire ruled: Iran, Iraq, the Levant, the Caucasus, Egypt and Central Asia. [2]
Sasanian Empire was defeated by Arab Muslims and thus Arabization began throughout the 9th and 10th century. [2]
The Safavid Dynasty came fourth in 1501 and lasted until the early 1700's. This is important because this dynasty as well as "Iranians" were concerned with preserving Persian Culture. The Safavid Dynasty declared Shia Islam as the national religion. [3]
The modern Iranian national movement began in the late 19th century. Iranian nationalism is in origin a reaction to 19th-century European colonialismin the region. [1]
The Persian Constitutional Revolution brought forth modern Iran. The Personal Constitution initiative was to seek independence from Russia and British powers. [3]
Identity
Clawson, Patrick; Rubin, Michael(2005). Eternal Iran([Online-Ausg.]. ed.). New York: Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 31–32. ISBN 1-4039-6276-6
 Enderwitz, S. "Shu'ubiyya". Encyclopedia of Islam. Vol. IX (1997), pp. 513-14.

 Ashraf, Ahmad. "IRANIAN IDENTITY iii. MEDIEVAL ISLAMIC PERIOD"Encyclopedia Iranica.

Oil and gas is necessary for the Iranian economic survival.
around 80-90 percent of total export earnings and 40-50 percent of the government budget. [1]
While oil is plentiful their initiative is rapidly declining due to lack of foreign interest, corruption and mismanagement.
The effects of sanctions imposed by the U.S. and European Union in 2012 in response to Iran's illicit nuclear weapons program have been devastating.
Capital markets are not fully developed and state owned banks are the majority of the banking systems.
Iranian foreign investments are heavily monitored by our government and the British making business burdensome for Iranian investors.
Economics
Willis, Stanely, The Strategic Culture of Iran, Comparative Strategic Cultures Curriculum
Contract No: DTRA01-03-D-0017, Technical Instruction 18-06-02
US Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration, Country Analysis Brief: Iran, January 2006. http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/Iran/Background.html
Western powers, Russia and Britain, used crooked negotiations with Iranians and inevitably divided Iran into "spheres of influence." [1]
In 1925, Reza Shah Pahlavi attempted to move Iran toward becoming a modern state. This meant serious structural changes to their military and technological resources. [1]
During and after the Cold War Iran, along with other middle eastern entities, lost much of their cultural identity by having imperial powers stomping through their territories and exploiting their resources to no avail.
The Iranian Revolution of 1979: The Shah had over stepped their boundaries and Iranians rebelled. The religious legitimacy personified by Ayatollah Khomeini to claim absolute rule. A constitution was drawn up creating a "modern" government with an executive, a parliament and a judiciary. [2]
Modernization
The history is less clear than many Iranians, or Westerners, believe. See the CIA history of the 1953 coup at http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB28//index.html.
Willis, Stanely, The Strategic Culture of Iran, Comparative Strategic Cultures Curriculum
Contract No: DTRA01-03-D-0017, Technical Instruction 18-06-02

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