@article { author = {Afzali, R. and Kiani, V.}, title = {Explaining the Position of Positivism and Critical Methods In Political Geography and Geopolitics Studies}, journal = {Human Geography Research}, volume = {42}, number = {2}, pages = {103-120}, year = {2010}, publisher = {University of Tehran}, issn = {2008-6296}, eissn = {2423-7736}, doi = {}, abstract = {Extended Abstract Introduction Scientific research is a regular collection activity that with a standard visionary sight, and the efficacy of a specific methodology answers to questions which beget into the mind of researcher. Each theory or paradigm includes the three elements of ontology, epistemology and methodology. The systematic relevance between these three elements can rebound in research with scientific identity. Political geography and geopolitics theories are transmitting to a new status and their appearances are graduating vicissitudinou. First, the new significance and words overture (for example the international political economy, feminism, environment, critical geopolitics, popular geopolitics, and globalization) in discussions of political geography and geopolitics; Second, some of the prevalent significance and thoughts in political geography and geopolitics definite at new style (for example government, autonomy, ridge, security, minority laws and law of humans). Methodology The Research Method is Descriptive – Analytic and the information was collected in library method. Results and Discussion We generally assume that reality is objectively given and can be described by measurable properties which are independent of the observer (researcher) and his or her instruments. Positivist studies generally attempt to test theories, in order to increase the predictive understanding of phenomena. In line with this classified IS research as positivist if there was evidence of formal propositions, quantifiable measures of variables, hypothesis testing, and the drawing of inferences about a phenomenon from the sample to a stated population. Post positivism method (critical) assumes that social reality is constituted historically and that it is produced and reproduced by people. Although people can consciously act to change their social and economic circumstances, critical researchers recognize that their ability to do so is constrained by various forms of social, cultural and political dominations. The main task of critical research is considered as being one of social critique, whereby the restrictive and alienating conditions of the status quo are brought to light. Critical research focuses on the oppositions, conflicts and contradictions in contemporary society, and seeks to be emancipator i.e. it should help to eliminate the causes of alienation and domination. Many of the important questions in Political Geography and geopolitics in principle are methodological. In the beginning of 1950s and 1960s, the methodological Issues with the changes of behaviorism in political science, also entered Political Geography. Many of the Political Geography and geopolitics researchers began to seek the usage of Scientific Methods. These questions caused the reaction of the defenders of classical approaches. As a result, the other science methods developed similar structural analysis. These works created the other methods as Critical and post modern theories. This research has considered the basic division between the two groups of researchers i.e. Positivism and Critical methods: 1- a group of researchers who believe Positivism methods to be efficient for the science description of Political Geography and geopolitics and, 2 - a group of researchers who believe that this work is impracticable and what it can do to control Political Geography and geopolitics studies is commenting phenomena. Conclusion Comparisons between classical and critical geopolitics are made with the suggestion that both versions, although different in most respects, are equally legitimate for study and perhaps may be brought closer together, at least in ways that may complement each other, after inspection of their comparative approaches. The classical version deserves consideration as a contribution to international relations theory and to foreign policy making. The critical approach provides a necessary critique of the classical, exposing its weaknesses and suggesting an emancipator alternative. Accordingly, the author has selected a variety of associated characteristics that show the primary variations between the classical and the critical approach, illustrated by appropriate quotations and examples, reaching the conclusion that both versions of geopolitics, the classical and the critical, merit credibility, and that a possibility exists where certain connections may be located between the two that could mutually clarify and strengthen their unique contributions to geopolitics as a whole. This research has considered the basic division between the two groups of researchers i.e. Positivism and Critical methods: 1- a group of researchers who believe Positivism methods to be efficient for the science description of Political Geography and geopolitics and, 2 - a group of researchers who believe that this work is impracticable and what it can do to control Political Geography and geopolitics studies is commenting phenomena. Therefore, the present research tries to distinguish the nature and position of this method in Political Geography and geopolitics studies.}, keywords = {Critical theories.,Geopolitics,political geography,positivism,Post – Positivism}, title_fa = {تبیین جایگاه روش های اثباتی و فرااثباتی در مطالعات جغرافیای سیاسی و ژئوپلیتیک}, abstract_fa = {بسیاری از مسائل مهم جغرافیای سیاسی و ژئوپلیتیک، اساساً روش شناسان هاند. موضوعات رو ششناختی در ابتدا در دهه 50 و 60 با تحول رفتارگرایی در علوم سیاسی و روابط بی نالملل، به جغرافیای سیاسی و ژئوپلیتیک نیز وارد شد و بسیاری از پژوهشگران جغرافیای سیاسی و ژئوپ لیتیک، تلاش کردند تا روش های علمی را در جغرافیای سیاسی به کار بگیرند . این امر واکنش مدافعان رهیاف ت های سنتی یا کلاسیک را موجب شد . در نتیجه، رو ش های دیگر ملهم از علم یا اثبات گرایی، مانند انتخاب عقلی و تجزیه و تحلیل ساختاری، توسعه یافت . این امر به نوبه خود روش های دیگر فرااثبا ت گرایی و از جمله نظریه های انتقادی و پسامدرنیسم را سبب گردی د . این تحقیق تقسیم اساسی بین دو گروه از محققان روش های اثباتی و فرااثباتی را مورد مطالعه قرار داده است : 1- آن دسته از پژوهشگران جغرافیای سیاسی و ژئوپلیتیک که معتقدند روش پوزیتی ویستی می تواند برای تشریح علمی جغرافیای سیاسی و ژئوپلیتیک به کار رود؛ و 2- آن دسته از پژوهشگران جغرافیای سیاسی و ژئوپلیتیک که تصور می کنند این امر ناشدنی است و آنچه در پژوهش های جغرافیای سیاسی و ژئوپلیتیک م ی توان بدان دست یافت . از لحاظ پژوهشی، تفسیر پدیده ها در قالب روش های فرااثبات گرایی است . از این رو تحقیق حاضر صرفاً به ماهیت و جایگاه این روش ها در مطالعات جغرافیای سیاسی و ژئوپلیتیک پرداخته است و قصد سوق دادن پژوهشگران و اندیشمندان این رشته را به سوی روش خاصی مدنظر قرار نداده است . بلکه هدف اصلی این است ک ه اگر در تحقیقی از روش اثباتی یا فرااثباتی استفاده شده است، پژوهشگر باید از چه اصول و معیارهایی پیروی کند تا مطالع های روشمند انجام داده باشد.}, keywords_fa = {اثبا تگرایی,جغرافیای سیاسی,ژئوپلیتیک,فرااثبا تگرایی,نظری ههای انتقادی.}, url = {https://jhgr.ut.ac.ir/article_24453.html}, eprint = {https://jhgr.ut.ac.ir/article_24453_3da0568d9d622d98ce8b9b4706097df1.pdf} }