محمدمهدی مزینانی

Pathologizing national security policymaking in the Islamic Republic of Iran requires the adoption of a model derived from a scientific theory with multifaceted dimensions. This approach facilitates the identification of potential pathologies and prevents oversight. Through this method, policymakers in this domain can achieve greater success in recognizing possible pathologies, addressing existing deficiencies, and providing appropriate strategies. This article has been written with the aim of pathologizing through the theoretical model of national security policymaking in the Islamic Republic of Iran based on societal security. The research process is grounded in a system of questions, structured in the form of a main question and sub-questions, and employs the “correlational interpretive method based on a descriptive matrix,” which is aligned with the type of research and its requirements. After examining the background and literature on the subject and presenting selected theories, using the proposed theoretical model, weaknesses and potential pathologies in the national security policymaking of the Islamic Republic of Iran within the framework of the societal security theory have been identified.

The national security policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, within the framework of conventional approaches—despite its strengths—suffers from certain deficiencies and potential vulnerabilities. Therefore, it requires scientific research to outline a suitable and necessary theoretical model and to employ an efficient and desirable approach. This would assist policymakers in this field in identifying potential vulnerabilities, addressing existing deficiencies, and presenting strategies that align with the conditions and necessities of Iran and the region, and are consistent with the characteristics of the Islamic Republic of Iran's system. This article has been written with the aim of outlining a theoretical model for the national security policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran based on Societal security. The research process is based on a system of questions, formulated in the form of main and sub-questions, and employs the "qualitative meta-synthesis" method, which aligns with the type of research and its requirements. After reviewing the background and literature on the subject, selecting appropriate theories, and combining various approaches to policy and national security policy, and adding the theory of societal security to it, a clear achievement has been presented for improving the national security policy process based on the indicators of the societal security theory. By using this, it is possible to identify the existing weaknesses and potential damages in the national security policy process and to propose strategies that are appropriate to the conditions and correspond to the specialized topics in the field of Iran's national security.