Iran’s Soft Power in Afghanistan and Pakistan
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About this book
Studies Iran's soft power in Afghanistan and Pakistan in cultural, religious, social, ideological and educational spheres
- Based on primary sources including Persian sources and materials collected through semi-structured interviews with research participants
- Discusses case studies about Iran's historical resources and instruments which it uses to increase its soft power reach, the reasons why Iran seeks to exercise soft power in both countries, and the outcomes Iran has been able to achieve through its soft power
- From a theoretical perspective, it engages with Iran's soft power in light of the political theories of soft power
- Brings together materials from a range of disciplinary areas – history, politics, Islamic studies
This book explores Iran’s soft power in two of its eastern neighbours – namely Afghanistan and Pakistan – in key areas including the cultural, religious, social, media, ideological and educational spheres. It explains what resources and instruments Iran has used to project its soft power in the two selected countries since the establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran in 1979, and how Iran’s attempt to increase its reach has been perceived by elites and opinion makers in Afghanistan and Pakistan. It therefore offers the most up-to-date examination of Iranian soft power tools and strategies and how they are received in both countries – topics which have not hitherto been fully explored. The book reflects the ideas of local Afghan and Pakistani participants from civil society, government, military, media, academia, think tanks and policymaking, explaining the extent to which research participants perceived Iranian soft power in a positive or negative manner.
Reviews
Soft power is not the exclusive preserve of superstates like the US and China in influencing the world around them. Focusing on Iran this new book spotlights the ways Iran brings soft power to bear on neighbouring Afghanistan and Pakistan in shaping the cultural, economic and strategic relations in its immediate region.
A fascinating study of the soft-hard power nexus that sheds light on how historical memories, language, culture, institutions and instruments of influence used by Iran have resulted in differing outcomes in Afghanistan and Pakistan, while enabling Tehran to recruit Shi’a youth in these two states to advance its strategic interests in the ‘Shi’ite crescent’.
Iran’s Soft Power in Afghanistan and Pakistan is a timely and insightful offering that sheds much needed light on Iranian relations with both of the other states [...] The book will certainly be a useful reference work for scholars interested in Iranian foreign policy and soft power.
A valuable contribution to understanding the specifics and issues of Iran's soft power policies in individual countries, particularly Afghanistan and Pakistan. The research value is enhanced by its use of not only existing theoretical literature and media publications but also data obtained from qualitative interviews.
[T]his book offers a comprehensive and well-researched analysis of Iran’s complex relationships with its eastern neighbours through the lens of soft power. It will be of particular interest to scholars of Middle Eastern and South Asian politics, as well as to readers exploring the intersection of soft power, historical context, and regional geopolitics in a borderland shaped by both strategic commonalities and distinct security, political, and cultural tensions.
Table of contents
List of Abbreviations Acknowledgements 1. Introduction 2. Historical Legacy 3. Iranian Fears and National Interest 4. Geostrategic Interests 5. Cultural and Ideological Influences 6. Iran’s Political Influence 7. Economic Relations and Influence 8. Recruitment: Shi’a Brigades in Syria 9. Conclusion Annexure 1: Afghan Participants Annexure 2: Pakistani Participants BibliographyIndex