The Role of Scientific Diplomacy in Ensuring National Security in Iran–Afghanistan Relations

Abstract

Security in the world today has become a complex and different concept from the past. In the ancient world, military power and capabilities played the most important role in maintaining security in various societies; But today, security tools have a wide range; They also include elements such as economic, scientific and cultural capabilities. In this new world, governments have to use all these tools in part to ensure the national security of countries in order to provide the basis for comprehensive security.

In the meantime, thinkers and researchers from different countries in recent years, have been able to use modern communication tools to provide the basis for the formation of scientific diplomacy in foreign policy and the concept of soft power as one of the ways to increase and consolidate national interests and security. Therefore, it is necessary to address scientific diplomacy as a grounding element for increasing national security and securing the national interests of countries by non-governmental actors, especially academics in each country. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of scientific diplomacy in promoting cooperation between countries, especially the two neighboring countries of Iran and Afghanistan.

The main question in this study was, why scientific diplomacy today can be used as a tool to ensure security and national interests in the development of Iran-Afghanistan relations? To answer this question, in this article, an attempt was made to provide practical examples of the role of scientific diplomacy in promoting international cooperation between countries within the framework of soft power theory. The main findings of the study explain the key role of scientific diplomacy in strengthening cultural and civilizational ties and security between Iran and Afghanistan.