Document Type : Research/Original/Regular Article
Author
Assistant Professor, Department of Islamic Studies, Kermanshah University of Technology, Kermanshah, Iran
Abstract
The Iran–Iraq War (1980–1988), referred to in the official discourse of the Islamic Republic of Iran as the “Sacred Defense,” was not merely a military conflict but also a historical and identity‑shaping experience that left profound effects on Iran’s political, security, and discursive spheres. One of the most significant consequences of this experience has been the emergence and consolidation of the “discourse of resistance” in the foreign policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran. This discourse is grounded in key components such as confronting external domination, supporting oppressed nations, relying on indigenous capacities, and emphasizing political and security independence. The present study aims to examine the impact of the Sacred Defense experience on the formation and institutionalization of the discourse of resistance in Iran’s foreign policy. The main research question addresses how and through what mechanisms the experience of the war contributed to the emergence and consolidation of this discourse within the foreign policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Drawing on the theoretical framework of constructivism in international relations and employing a discourse analysis approach, this study analyzes the relationship between the war experience and the transformation of Iran’s foreign policy patterns. The research adopts a qualitative methodology based on documentary analysis and the examination of texts and sources related to the foreign policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
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