1
Professor and faculty of Supreme National Defense University, Tehran, Iran.
2
PhD in Supreme National Security University of National Defense, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract
Given the pivotal role of security in human life, various theories have consistently sought to interpret the concept of security and the mechanisms for achieving it. Differences in ontological, epistemological, methodological, and teleological foundations have led to the adoption of divergent security approaches. Two principal schools of thought in international relations -Realism and Liberalism-alongside Islam as a universal religion, have proposed distinct security paradigms. This study employs a descriptive/analytical research methodology to introduce these three schools and conduct a comparative analysis, aiming to elucidate their differing perspectives on conceptualization, dimensions, mechanisms, and operationalization of security indicators. The findings of this research indicate that Realism’s pessimistic view of human nature and the international system, coupled with its focus on the war-prone nature of international relations and the dominance of power politics, has resulted in a confrontational, reductionist security approach emphasizing the military dimension of security. Conversely, Liberalism’s optimistic perspective on human nature and the international system, along with its emphasis on the peaceful tendencies of humans and international relations, has led to an interactive and optimistic security approach prioritizing economic dimensions and an individual-level analysis. In contrast, Islam’s realistic outlook on human nature and the international system, grounded in its ontological foundations, has fostered a composite security approach blending interaction, confrontation, and pragmatism. This approach is rooted in the notion of comprehensive security and emphasizes multiple layers of security, adopting an ummah-centric level of analysis.
Bayat, B. and Talebi, A. N. (2023). Comparative Analysis of Western Security Schools of Thought and the Islamic Security Paradigm. Theorizing criticism debate, 1(3), 73-92.
MLA
Bayat, B. , and Talebi, A. N. . "Comparative Analysis of Western Security Schools of Thought and the Islamic Security Paradigm", Theorizing criticism debate, 1, 3, 2023, 73-92.
HARVARD
Bayat, B., Talebi, A. N. (2023). 'Comparative Analysis of Western Security Schools of Thought and the Islamic Security Paradigm', Theorizing criticism debate, 1(3), pp. 73-92.
CHICAGO
B. Bayat and A. N. Talebi, "Comparative Analysis of Western Security Schools of Thought and the Islamic Security Paradigm," Theorizing criticism debate, 1 3 (2023): 73-92,
VANCOUVER
Bayat, B., Talebi, A. N. Comparative Analysis of Western Security Schools of Thought and the Islamic Security Paradigm. Theorizing criticism debate, 2023; 1(3): 73-92.