تحليل تاثير خود گرداني عتبات عاليات بر قدرت نرم شيعيان عراق (با تاكيد بر حرمين عباسي و حسيني ع)

Analyzing the effect of self-governance of high-ranking shrines on the soft power of Iraqi Shiites (with an emphasis on the Abbasid an‎d Hosseini shrines)

علوم سياسي

The holy Shiite shrines have always held a prominent place in the heart of the Shiite community, but the developments in Iraq after 2003 significantly increased their importance. The fall of the Baʹath regime an‎d the resulting power vacuum compelled the Shiite religious authority in Najaf to intervene in public affairs. This intervention was a necessary response to the absence of state institutions, insecurity, an‎d the urgent needs of the people. This dissertation examines the question: What impact has the independent management of the holy shrines had on the soft power of Iraqʹs Shiite community? By analyzing the successful self-governance experiences of the shrines of Imam Hussein (AS) an‎d Abbas (AS), the study explores three main hypotheses: 1. The potential transformation of the shrines into an independent state similar to the Vatican. 2.Their evolution into autonomous regions akin to Kurdistan. 3.Their administration as independent institutions similar to the Astan Quds Razavi. The findings of the research show that the first two hypotheses are incompatible with Iraq’s political an‎d social realities. However, the third hypothesis — independent management of the shrines as autonomous institutions — emerges as a viable an‎d effective option. The study demonstrates that the independent administration of the holy shrines, under the guidance of the Shiite religious authority an‎d through the use of existing capacities, can offer a practical an‎d successful approach to strengthening the soft power of Iraq’s Shiite community. This approach, while preserving Iraq’s unity an‎d territorial integrity, contributes to the cultural, social, an‎d economic development of the Shiite community an‎d plays a significant role in the country’s stability an‎d security. This dissertation is conducted using a descriptive-analytical research method, supported by interviews an‎d library-based tools.

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