ژئوپلیتیک

Foreign policy of the states is always influenced by various factors. The geopolitical location of countries has always been one of the most important variables of political, economic, and social mutual relations between countries. The geopolitical location of buffer states has compelled them to make various decisions in terms of both domestic and foreign policy areas. Some of buffer countries have successfully used this situation to achieve their national goals and interests. In some cases, the geopolitical location of the buffer faces the states with different kinds of international pressures and threats. Some of the buffer states have also been impacted by the military actions of the buffered states. But we should not neglect the fact that the behavior of the politicians of the buffer countries affects the attitude and decisions of the buffered countries. Therefore, in this article, political and economic relations and mutual relations of two countries, namely Switzerland and Ukraine, with buffered countries will be investigated. The research method is descriptive-analytic and the data and information are gathered using library and internet methods.

Generally, in geopolitics and political geography the influence and the relevance of scholars of various other disciplines have been largely ignored. Therefore, in order to understand the geopolitics of Germany, this research analyzes the philosophy of Carl Schmitt, who was an influential figure during Weimer and Nazi (officially the National Socialist German Workers’ Party) eras. Schmitt’s theories a (The Political) have been incredibly impactful on Germany during Hitler’s reign and is still greatly helpful in understanding the theories and viewpoints on politics and geopolitics, especially when it comes to the geopolitical developments of the 21st century. In this research, descriptive-analytical method was used to explicate the impact of Carl Schmitt’s thought on geopolitical issues. The results of this research demonstrate a connection between the transcendental and concrete concepts of Carl Schmitt which he utilizes in order to present his spatial theories, which deal with the organization of space in line with his overall geopolitical goals.

Since the introduction of virtual space to Iranian society, its function has always been controversial. The state remains continuously cautious about its control over the country. It has expressed concern about foreign interventions in virtual space, leading citizens to view it as a means of connecting to the global community, an opportunity for political engagement and social activism, and an accelerator of global connectivity. Therefore, ‘virtual space’ is a significant issue for the Iranian state and its citizens. Although there is no clear distinction between their perspectives, and each showcases varying attitudes, it can be generally stated that there exists a contrast between academic views on this topic. This divergence is explicitly illustrated by the theories presented by scholars in communication and Geography. In this paper, we will examine two distinct theories in Iranian academia regarding virtual space: spatial duality and the political geography of cyberspace. By analyzing these theories within the geography framework, we will explore the reasons behind them, their implications and impacts, and their weaknesses, ultimately arguing for adopting virtual geography as a preferable alternative to the political geography of cyberspace.

This study explores the critical relationship between economic development and human capital development, with a comparative analysis of Iraq and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Human capital, encompassing education, skills, and health, is essential for driving sustainable economic growth. The UAE has successfully leveraged its investment in human capital to diversify its economy, foster innovation, and enhance productivity, positioning itself as a regional economic hub. In contrast, Iraq faces significant challenges in human capital development due to socio-political instability, underinvestment in education, and insufficient healthcare systems, which hinder its economic progress. A comparative legal analysis was used to comparatively analyze policy, strategies and regulations on human capital towards economic development in the two countries. The study highlights the disparities in human capital strategies between the two nations, revealing how the UAE's proactive approach has resulted in robust economic indicators, while Iraq’s reliance on oil revenues and lack of human capital investment continue to impede its development. Suggesting the necessity for Iraq to prioritize human capital development as a pathway to sustainable economic growth, learning from the UAE's successful model.

This paper aims to analyse how the propaganda narrative of ISIS encourages women in Indonesia to commit terrorism. This study contributes to filling gaps in radical movement research by involving gender aspects and narratives in explaining terrorism. This research uses a qualitative method by interviewing former ISIS women to identify how they joined ISIS. Testimonies of former ISIS sympathisers from online media, online magazines, YouTube, and Facebook became secondary sources. The results indicate two aspects. First, Indonesian women are influenced by ISIS through online propaganda on social media. Second, two narrative levels encouraged Indonesian women to join ISIS. The first-level narratives were injustice, unequal law, and infidel governance, which became the initial drivers for women to act terrorism. The second-level narratives were stories about female heroism during the Prophet Muhammad's time that served as reinforcement. To conclude, these findings have implications for the importance of gender-based counter-narratives.

The Tigris-Euphrates basin is of high regional and global significance; however, the lack of a comprehensive multilateral agreement among riparian states has transformed the management of this transboundary watercourse into a political, security, and environmental challenge. The central issue addressed in this research is the evaluation of the quality of the application of the 'no significant harm' principle within the basin. Specifically, the study investigates whether water resource utilization—such as constructing dams beyond the natural capacity of the rivers and excessive extraction of groundwater—complies with legal obligations and the principles of equitable and reasonable utilization. This study employs an innovative interdisciplinary approach that integrates legal and technical analyses. The legal framework is established by examining customary sources, international conventions, and the insights of prominent international law scholars regarding the definition and scope of "no significant harm." Concurrently, up-to-date technical data on dam capacities, river flow alterations, and groundwater extraction—sourced from reputable publications—serve as the empirical basis for assessing the practical application of the principle. The findings indicate that mismanagement practices in water resource development can inflict significant harm on the ecosystem, regional wetlands, and the livelihoods of local communities. Therefore, the formulation of a comprehensive framework and the advancement of multilateral cooperation for the equitable and reasonable use of the Tigris-Euphrates resources is imperative.

Syria’s post-conflict recovery confronts multifaceted challenges in governance, economic revitalization, and social reconciliation following the 2024 collapse of the Assad regime. This study employs an adaptive governance framework to address systemic failures, political fragmentation, and extremism, shaped by regional geopolitics, notably Turkey’s focus on territorial integrity and counter-terrorism. Findings highlight the necessity of decentralized governance and stringent anti-corruption measures to restore trust and stability. Economic strategies emphasize sectoral diversification, revitalizing agriculture, manufacturing, and trade, with equitable resource allocation to counter an 87% GDP decline and over 300% inflation surge. Social reconciliation hinges on community-driven initiatives, truth commissions, and inclusive policies to mend ethnic and sectarian divides. Drawing on comparative analyses of post-conflict recoveries in Rwanda and Bosnia, this research advocates for integrated, context-specific strategies supported by international collaboration to navigate geopolitical complexities. By holistically addressing governance, economic, and social dimensions, Syria can achieve sustainable development and long-term stability, tailored to its unique demographic and political landscape.

The modern paradigm of global development is based on neoliberal values. Many representatives of political science call it “neoliberal monetarism”. The modern monetary and financial system allows the issuing country of the world’s reserve currency to control and direct political and economic processes worldwide fully. The existing system of institutions and technologies conflicts with the interests of many countries that ensure stable economic growth and occupy leading positions in the world economy and politics. At present, the process of rapprochement of these countries is taking place, which is aimed at the final formation of a new world center – the Global South. The formation of ideological principles that can unite the countries of the Global South is of great importance. First of all, this refers to their vision of the basic principles of the functioning of the new world financial and economic system.

Siam is the name of a country in the east of Asia and east of India, this country has unique and natural features that provided important financial and commercial resources for the government and people of Siam in the 11th lunar century equal to the 17th AD. At this time, Faranarai, the king of Siam, sent an ambassador from the Iranians living in Siam, named Mohammad Salim Mazandarani, to the court of Shah Suleiman Safavi (1077-1105 AH/1666-1693 AD). One of the cultural results of these relations was the authoring of a travelogue titled Safina Soleimani, which contains valuable information about the country of Siam in economic, social, military, and cultural fields. This research aims to study the financial situation of Siam in the 11th lunar century based on Safina Soleimani travelogue, in a descriptive-analytical way. The findings of the research show that the income of Siam was provided by the two sectors of trade and agriculture, among the commercial products of Siam were native animals of that country, which were exported to its neighboring countries and even distant areas, as a result, it was considered an important source of income for the country. Considering the special natural conditions of the country of Siam during the research period, despite the aforementioned sources of income, the king and the people of that country benefited from limited financial resources. Siam trade like other countries faced with damaging factors such as; Pirates and wasting part of the capital to perform costly rituals, which resulted in less and less profitable trade.

The main rivers in Southeast Asia not only shaped civilization but also play a significant element that transcends geopolitical boundaries in that area. This article aims to examine the role of rivers in Southeast Asia in connecting communities, strengthening trade, and spreading religious beliefs such as Hindu-Buddhism and Islam, making it the core of principle for regional integration and collective identity in Asean. By using the longue durée theory, this article analyses the rivers’ roles as both physical and symbolic mediums. Findings reveal that rivers were not only used as the main routes for trading but also as channels to exchange cultures and symbols of shared identity, seen in traditions like floating markets, maritime arts, and water house communities. However, the neglect of joint management cooperation due to modern nation-state-centered approaches has affected the rivers’ potential as catalysts for regional integration. Therefore, this article emphasizes the importance of establishing a multilateral framework for river management within ASEAN, leveraging platforms such as ASEAN as mechanisms for water diplomacy to ensure ecological sustainability and equitable resource distribution.

In a federation, decentralized power is crucial in alleviating ethnic conflicts and addressing sentiments of deprivation among marginalized communities. The historic merger of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) with the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) in May 2018, under the 25th Amendment of Pakistan's 1973 constitution, aimed to address the grievances of this area’s residents and promote peace and development. Despite its strategic significance, the tribal agencies (bordering Afghanistan) have long suffered from socio-economic and political neglect and enduring insurgency since 2002. Consequently, the merger was widely welcomed by residents and political stakeholders in the area. This study presents a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the sentiments of young residents in ex-FATA regarding socio-economic and political changes following the merger with KPK. A survey, interviews, and focus-group discussion were conducted with residents of these tribal agencies. Research findings indicate that while most former FATA inhabitants appreciate the merger, substantial progress in improving their quality of life has yet to be witnessed in practice.

The paradox of security-development (PSD) has been a major global issue in borderline regions, particularly occurring in developing economies presented with drug trafficking. International drug trafficking in such regions is hidden under a cloud of political issues, which in turn has triggered the undertaking of martial-security tactics in matters of drug trades. Herein, this study proceeds with an audit of PSD in eastern borderline regions of Iran, with an analysis of the impacts of martial-security policies on border residents and international drug trades using qualitative methods and interviews with 75 frontiersmen, border officials, and drug traffickers. The findings indicate that policies have not been able to control drug smuggling into the country. Reducing and eliminating drug-trafficking in the eastern borders of Iran requires a perspective which views the issue as independent alongside development-based strategies instead of the existing security policies. One resolution to this puzzle is coordinated border management (CBM), centered on expanding development capacities in eastern borderline regions of Iran, to enable continuing security measures against illicit drug deals.

Emerging markets are those developing countries that are not fully developed but moving away from the traditional economies to be more industrialized by adopting a free and open market or mixed economy. Fast economic growth, growing middle-class, huge population growth and working age population, as well as consumption growth are attracted the multinationals to invest in emerging markets. Despite of its opportunities, these emerging markets also bring out the risks that must be faced and overcome by multinationals through its strategies and approaches. Qualitative research has been used for this study. This paper will try to evaluate the emerging markets from its governance, rule of law, politics, market and corporate sectors, as well as its institutions and regulations, while taking BRICS countries as example to represent the emerging markets. The findings shows that emerging markets are attractive yet still has issues that mostly on its governance, political stability, rule of law, corruption, and institutional voids. Thus, multinational firms could undertake this challenges by implementing right strategies and approaches based on each markets domestic features, using the five context to recognize the institutional voids, and refer to the Analyze-Benchmarck-Calibrate of developing a globalization strategy.

Terrorism, one of the types of non-war political violence, creates difficulties in many parts of the world. Terrorist organizations, which need economic resources to maintain their existence, create an environment of terrorism by using these economic resources in line with their interests. On the other hand, actors fighting against terrorism are working to dry up these financial resources. The economic struggle, which is seen as an integral part of the political, legal, social and military struggle against terrorist organizations, has an important place in limiting the opportunities and capabilities of terrorist organizations. The success of the fight against terrorist organizations is directly related to handling all aspects of the fight in a coordinated manner. In the study, the financial resources of terrorist organizations and the measures taken to dry up these resources in the fight against terrorist organizations were discussed. Additionally, ISIS's financial resources and the drying up of these financial resources were examined.

The theory of Airpower Geopolitical Space is a hybrid concept based on understanding the influential realities of Airpower. It is based on the behavior of actors, decision makers and political rulers who have geopolitical interests in geopolitical space. The theory examines the interrelationships of Airpower in geopolitical space with power actions and geopolitical competitions that arise and emerge in the form of territoriality, territorial expansion, empowerment and superiority in various fields. Since Airpower exploits complex technologies, as technologies progress, it plays a different role and is influential in the behavior pattern of actors in the form of competition, confrontation, or interaction. It will play a decisive role, facilitating the attention of rulers to this area of competition or their confrontation with competitors. In this theory which is inspired by Robert Dubin's methodology, the main theory assumption and the subject are presented as the theory of theorizing at first, then the theory of explanation is discussed based on five steps (explanation of units, manner and relationships of units, the scope of the theory determination, the system explanation, and propositions theory). The theory is descriptive and prescriptive because the provisions and content of phenomena report and the relations between them are in the two areas of Airpower and geopolitics. Given that, causal and disability relations are related to the described phenomenon recommendation. The resulting theory consists of one supporting part, three main parts and 12 judgments or theorems.

The world is confronted with two important approaches - planning and environment - in pursuit of sustainable development, resulting in the emergence of a new term called environmental law, of which program laws are a part.Designing and implementing development programs without systematic attention to environmental considerations poses serious challenges to the path to achieving sustainable development. Therefore, assessing the level of attention to the environment in past development documents can provide a basis for reviewing future policies. The present study, using a text-based and category-based content analysis method relying on the Environmental Performance Index (EPI), analyzes the course of attention to the environment in five development programs before the revolution and six development programs after the Islamic Revolution. The findings show that although in the early stages, the concept of environment did not exist in the text of the programs and only some related categories (such as natural resources) were referred to in the agricultural section, later, with the approval of the Fifth Development Plan, the environment entered the planning structure as an independent section. After the revolution, the status of the environment gradually improved, but in recent years, despite legal emphasis, a 22-point decline in Iran's EPI performance index has been observed, indicating a gap between the approved content of programs, laws, and their effective implementation.