The Role of Resistance Discourse in Regional Regulation: Capacities and Challenges

Ghalandari, Yakub; MOHSENI, HOSEIN

doi:10.27834/CSIW.2311.1315.4.31.6

The Role of Resistance Discourse in Regional Regulation: Capacities and Challenges

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

yakub ghalandari ¹

HOSEIN MOHSENI ²

¹ Researcher at National Defense University, Tehran, Iran

² PhD Student of political science at Shiraz University

10.27834/CSIW.2311.1315.4.31.6

Abstract

The victory of the Islamic revolution led to the formation of the discourse of resistance as an alternative to the hegemonic discourse of domination, and it was able to move from a marginalized discourse to the context of developments. One of the most important examples of this acting can be explained in the discussion of regional order. This article has analyzed the role of resistance discourse in regional order by using the discourse theory of Lacla and Mouffe and using explanatory-analytical method. The proposed hypothesis is that the discourse of resistance after the victory of the Islamic revolution in Iran, with the creation of an Islamic discourse system, has been able to transform from a discourse marginalized by the discourse of domination into an active discourse in the context of regional and extra-regional policies, and with the negation of the hegemonic discourse of domination and non-compromise in contrast to its policies will create a new articulation, which ultimately has created a new pattern of high-efficiency order-making at the regional level. However, the discourse of resistance, while having structural, military, conceptual and ideological capacities, still has many challenges at various levels, domestic (such as economic challenges), regional (such as competing discourses) and extra-regional (such as the intervention of Western powers) that can seriously threaten its goals. The innovation of this article is explaining the regional regularization of the discourse of resistance while paying attention to its capacities and challenges.

Highlights

1-Introduction

The victory of the Islamic revolution in Iran created a significant change in the discourse of resistance against hegemonic discourse. Following the victory,the previously marginalized discourse of resistance gained prominence and played a decisive role in shaping regional dynamics. One of the most important examples of this behaviour can be explained in the regional order. Because the discourse of resistance believes that one of the essential elements in achieving territorial order and stability is resistance to the discourse of domination. All efforts to establish order in the region have failed without considering the interests of the resistance discourse. the main question of this research is that how to explain the role of resistance discourese in regional order? In response to this question, it can be said that the discourse of resistance with the systematization of the Islamic discourse has been able to transform from a discourse marginalized by the discourse of domination into an active discourse in the context of regional and extra-regional policies. By rejecting the hegemony of dominant discourses and refusing to compromise on its principles, the resistance discourse has been able to create a new articulation that has led to the establishment of high-efficiency order at the regional level.

2-Method and Theoretical Framework

Methodologically, this research has been conducted qualitatively with an explanatory-analytical approach. Data collection has been done mainly through library research and using reliable internet sources. The theoretical framework of this paper is discourse theory, which is a significant theory employed by many political scholars to analyze various concepts of social science. The central tenet of discourse theory is that social phenomena are never static; meanings are not fixed indefinitely. This leads to ongoing social conflicts regarding the definitions of society and identity. These conflicts, in turn, have profound social implications.

and this opens the way for constant social conflicts over the definitions of society and identity, which itself brings social effects.

3-Discussion

The discourse of resistance is a set of different social subjects and groups whose main purpose is to produce a semantic system based on the Islamic culture. This expands the resistance against the discourse of domination in various political, economic, cultural and social fields.

Accordingly, the concept of "resistance" is considered as the main signifier of the discourse of resistance. Therefore, the discourse of resistance appeared as the most important rival to regional sub-discourses. This regional conflict was a function of otherization of the discourse of Islamic Revolution with two blocs of the East and the West, so that the conflicts of these two blocs changed direction towards the discourse of the Islamic revolution.

The discourse of resistance has been able to take measures to challenge the hegemonic order of the domination system by creating an articulation based on the master signifier of "resistance" and relying on Islamic teachings.

It can be said that the discourse of resistance has highlighted the concept of emancipation against the order imposed by the discourse of domination in the field of regional order so that by attracting official and unofficial actors, it has reproduced its power and severely threatens the dominant order and in return, presents its desired order as an inviolable rule.

This issue can be well seen in the developments of the regional order, such as the confrontation with ISIS in Iraq and Syria, rise of the Islamic awakening, the fall of fall of pro-status quo regimes, the rise of Hezbollah in Lebanon, Ansarullah in Yemen, Hashd al-Shaabi in Iraq, and the withdrawal of American forces in Iraq. These changes represent the increase in the scope of activism of the resistance discourse in shaping the new regional order. In addition, the resistance discourse has been intensively creating alliances with supporting countries to increase its authority.

4-Conclusion and Suggestions

In general, the most important components of the new order in the framework of the resistance discourse can be seen in cases such as opposition to the US. military presence in the region, the Palestinian issue and the attempt to destroy the Zionist regime, Islamic awakening, the fall of powers aligned with the West, the fight against arrogance states and trying to establish Islamic governments in the region.

Beside this order, we can mention the capacities and challenges of the resistance discourse. Among the most important capacities of the discourse of resistance, we can mention military, geopolitical, institutional and conceptual-discursive (ideological) capacities. Despite the successes and achievements of the resistance discourse in the field of regional order, this discourse still suffers from a series of challenges and weaknesses at the domestic level (such as economic challenges), regional level (such as competing discourses) and extra-regional level (such as the intervention of Western powers) which can weaken or undermine the ability of the members of this discourse to achieve their goals, or even threaten the existence of the resistance discourse.

Keywords

Discourse

discourse of resistance

dominance

region

regional order

20.1001.1.29811104.1402.10.4.4.7

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