Investigating the Strategic Role of Research Institutes in Strengthening Iran's Soft Power in the World System

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

Faculty member of Science and Research Policy Department,National Research Institute for Science Policy (NRISP), Tehran, Iran

Abstract

The vision of developing the power of the Islamic Republic of Iran at the regional and transregional level has guided the country's macro-policies and strategies. Utilizing soft power and its tools is one of the main strategies to realize this vision. Participation in the global network of science and knowledge is one of the most important tools that lead to the realization of the soft power strategy. However, the focus on culture and education has led to less focus on the role of research and research institutes in promoting soft power. The purpose of this article is to answer the question of how the internationalization of research institutes can promote Iran's soft power in the world system? In answer to this question, an integrated theoretical framework based on neoliberalism, globalization, and Manuel Castells' theory of network system has been used. In terms of research method, in this article, the methods of documentary studies, comparative study, expert panel and case study have been used. The scope of research is a comparative study of the experiences of selected national and international research institutes in the fields of humanities, basic sciences and engineering. The conclusion of the article is that the role of research institutes as a tool of  The soft power of countries requires their role as an international institution. Upgrading the capabilities and capacities of a research institute as a means of gaining power and prestige in the international arena requires it to join the global science network. Joining the World Science Network requires the provision of a suitable ecosystem in which, at the same time, international, national and transnational factors, in a dynamic and constructive interaction, provide the ground for the internationalization of research institutes. At the institutional level, the presence of the will to internationalize in policymakers and its reflection in the vision, missions and executive plans of the institution is important.
 

Keywords


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