نوع مقاله : مقاله پژوهشی
عنوان مقاله English
نویسندگان English
This article analyzes the cyber rivalry between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Israel by employing Constructivism theory. In contrast to traditional approaches like Realism and Liberalism that focus on material capabilities, this research argues that understanding the nature of this competition requires attention to its social and cognitive dimensions. In response to the central question, "How do cyber wars change the diplomatic and security equations in Southwest Asia?", the findings show that the Stuxnet attack was not merely a technical event, but an ontological catalyst that shifted Iran's identity from a passive "target" to an active and retaliatory "actor" in the cyber realm. This transformation, in the absence of established international norms, has led to a normative vacuum, where every aggressive act is interpreted as a violation of "implicit red lines." This process has created a vicious cycle of tit-for-tat attacks and the continuous production of mistrust. These interactional patterns have eroded traditional diplomacy and expanded the field of competition from military and technical domains to narrative warfare and cognitive influence operations. In these new arenas, the primary goal is not physical destruction, but rather the creation of ontological insecurity and the manipulation of public and elite perceptions.
کلیدواژهها English