Anti-Hegemonic Interactive Policy

557
5 May 2021

^Hegemonic^system^:^{The hegemonic}^{system constitutes}^a^{set of actors in the international system who try to maintain the rules of an unjust and oppressive system. They use various military, economic, cultural and political tools to influence others (the target communities).}

^{A) Historical periods of}^{the hegemonic}^system^:^The^{concept of}^hegemony^emerged^{in the era of European colonialism as a phenomenon in}^society^{and the international system. During this period, the European powers seized the control of many nations and territories in Africa, Asia and}^{North and South}^{America and exploited their resources. Since then, the concept of}^hegemony^{has not been transformed in terms of essence and concept, but}^concerning^{the form, instrument, and method, it has undergone periods of transformation that are as follows:}

^{1. The period of colonization of the European powers over other countries. This period continued until the middle of the twentieth century.}

^{2. The era of conflicts in the form of wars and open rivalries between}^hegemonic^{systems during the first half of the twentieth century, the main indicator of which is the first and second world wars.}

^{3. The period of modern colonialism and invisible}^hegemony^{in the form of influencing other countries}^coincided^{with the Cold War period of the first and second half of the twentieth century.}

^{4. The period of global}^hegemony^{and macro-regions, a phenomenon that}^coincided^{with the end of the twentieth century and the collapse of the classical Cold War era. In this period, hegemony is not merely a military and economic}^phenomenon^{but includes all forms of subjugation.}

^{Although the old colonialist tactics have lost their application in the post-Cold War}^{period, neo-colonial}^{methods of gaining power, which continue to infiltrate into the geopolitical areas, are}^increasingly^{commonly used. The period of ultra-modern}^hegemony^{or globalization has taken place without any rivalry and}^{is based on}^{the power of economy, information and media technology. Moreover, it influenced the identity and life of poor developing countries. These countries are worried that waves of Western globalization would destroy their culture, identity and economic and technological capabilities}^{. (Yazdani and Toyserkani, An Analysis of the Geopolitics of Hegemony and its Role in the Geostrategic Arena of Powers, 196-238)}

^{B) Characteristics of the}^hegemonic^system:^{The hegemonic}^{system views right through the framework of force and that anyone who has the power has the right so that power will become the objective and the definition of human beings reaches the point}^wherein^{such system humanity is viewed to naturally possess the lust for power. Accordingly, this system is called the realism of the Western world and politics would be defined}^{based on}^{deception and deceit as the twelfth-century Italian realist,}^Niccolò^{Machiavelli did.}

^{The politic of power has also been developed through the same principles and thus has been able to underpin the foundation of the}^hegemonic^{systems throughout history. Affected by this cruel title, such}^a^{system considers all creatures to be under his control and acts accordingly. The}^hegemonic^{system sees governments as the representatives of power or the power itself in the sense that politics is regarded as the science of power and equal to the state}^of^science^.

^{The ideologies of the West, which constitute materialist foundations, have been used to justify the}^hegemonic^{system in a manner that even their probable confrontations with a type of}^hegemony^{have taken place to replace another kind of}^hegemony^{. Consequently, political, social, economic, and cultural relations are also shaped by these foundations, and thus there is no place for establishing relations}^{based on}^{honesty, clarity and perspicacity.} ^{(Mohammadi, The Clash of Civilizations or the Hegemonic system: 60)}

^{C) Objectives of the}^hegemonic^system^{: the political objectives of the}^hegemonic^{system may include different areas from}^the^{training of dependent managers and politicians to establishing military bases around the world and creation of regional conflicts (some authors consider the crisis centers as causes of the presence of the}^hegemonic^system). ^{(Mansouri, Recognition of the Arrogant Powers: 7)}

^{Likewise, this system would overthrow the popular revolutionary-democratic governments as well as the anti-}^hegemonic^ones^to^{meet its demands. If the}^{hegemonic system}^{fails to achieve its military objectives, it will not hesitate to engage}^{in direct}^{military intervention. The occupation of}^Grenada^{, Panama, Iraq, Afghanistan, and so on are examples of such ruthlessness and}^{aggressiveness}^{. Undoubtedly, colonizers use all their means to overthrow the revolutionary and popular governments that oppose}^hegemony^{. For example, in 1941, the}^{Grenadian and Panamanian}^{governments received military supports from the United States.}^{(Faramarzian, Militarism and Economics in the United States: 27)}

^{Economic goals include plundering the resources of the}^{“Third World”}^{and developing a monoculture economy within the dominated countries. Indeed, with dependent politicians gaining power, the system of monoculture production would expand and make the national economy of the dominated country to be dependent on the}^{hegemonic system}^.^{(Shiroudi, Hegemony and the Dimensions of Hegemony)}

^{The cultural goals also include the rejection of cultural values and national beliefs}^{(Riyazi, A Brief Analysis of Imperialism: 79)}^{as well as the promotion and spread of corruption; as Imam Khomeini has said:}^“^{One of the major causes of the advancement of scientific, industrial and social spheres is to fight with intellectual and moral defects in society.}^”^‎^{(Mansouri, Recognition of the Arrogant Powers: 119)}

^D)^{Interaction: it is a process that takes shape due to the inevitable involvement of a country in international relations on the one hand and gaining more benefits by participating in the processes of the international system on the other, along with considering the centers of civilization, and also by providing a collective definition of the country in the international system and by employing appropriate and reasonable literature in international relations; it is based on the three principles of dignity, wisdom, expediency and with the aim of the effectiveness of the political, security, economic, cultural and scientific foundations of the system in this field}^.

^{The foreign policy that is based on Islamic attitude does not seek to create tension but rather focuses on interaction. Of course, such attitude does not mean compromise with all governments of the world, but rather it means developing a friendly atmosphere with the democratic countries, and on the other hand, it means friendship with people who are pioneers of establishing and seeking justice in the domestic and international arena. This interaction would question any kind of superiority policy; this undoubtedly comes true in the pursuit of justice, peace and tranquillity}^.

^{In this view, neither the realities are denied and all human beings and governments believed to be suitable for cooperation as in the idealist idea, nor are the ideals and the nations ignored as in the realism. This is a monotheistic viewpoint, that is, idealists and realists. In the same vein, Imam Khomeini as the pioneer in the struggle against the hegemonic system tried to deal with the realities through the use of senses and rationality, and move through the ideals by the means of making the right decision through reason and religion}^.

^{The constitution (}^Quran^{) of the universal school of Islam addresses all human beings – including Muslims and infidels – and while}^{inviting them to peaceful life, coexistence and developing good relations based on justice and rights, emphasizes following the rules of neighbourly etiquette and treating the neighbours with respect. Imam Khomeini believed that justice and peace are related to each other and that peace without justice would be unstable and inadequate. (Salehi, The Relations of Justice and World Peace From the Perspective of Imam Khomeini)}

^{E) Targets of anti-}^hegemony^{and imposition of and submission to}^hegemony^{: as far as the imposition of and submission to}^hegemony^{as well as opposing to such phenomenon are concerned, we want to address a system that relies on three spectrums: a spectrum that seeks to extend its power (not authority) to other countries in particular and international society in general; the spectrum that submits to this force; and the one that would not accept the imposition of the policies of the first group in an attempt to reject and fight with such policies}^.

^{Apart from the origin of}^hegemony^(including^domination^{and submitting to}^hegemony^{), which is explicitly addressed in the}^Quran^{, this view is further elucidated by some of the authors who believe that the study of the issue of}^hegemony^{is defined by and divided into two camps: the hegemonic camp and the camp of the anti-}^hegemony^.^{(Mohammadi, The Clash of Civilizations or the Hegemonic system: 56)}