Geopolitical Reading of Iran-Iraq War in the Context of Islamic Revolution Discourse in Iran

Extended Abstract
Introduction
War, as a complex social reality, consists of material elements that in the first place is assumed as an absolute and objective reality such as conflict over the disputed territory. But each of political-historical forces with using linguistic forms; provide a specific representation of war geopolitical causes which is never a prior reality, rather is helping to legitimize the same discourse. Therefore, discourse analysis of geopolitical crises is interpretation of how geopolitical components are related to each other and effort of this discourse to organize the subjective perception of citizens about war concept and reject competing discourses. In this regard, Iran-Iraq war in 1979 was formed on the basis of ideology and discourses confrontation, rather than just based on border disputes. So that, conflict between two countries was deep, complex and an issue beyond the conflict over territorial boundaries and it was linked to how discourse components play a role. In this regard, at the same time with the rise of Arab nationalism in Iraq and also with the victory of revolution in Iran in 1979; The political-military tension on the Iran-Iraq border intensified considerably. On the other hand, after start of Iraq war against Iran in 1980, inside Iran, clearly three discourses consist of Islamic revolution, liberal intellectual and left influenced by Marxist ideas were in competition with each other. Each of these competing discourses, by defining a set of legitimizing factors, tried to make hegonic their discourse in the reading of war. In this research, has been attempted geopolitical reading of Islamic Revolution discourse in Iran, which was placed in the hegemonic position in the early year’s war (1360 to 1365) in Iran, and its differences with competing discourses; be studied in framework of Laclau and Mouffe's point of view. in which based on the discourse model of Laclau and Mouffe; is investigated how the geopolitical components of Islamic Revolution discourse are equivalent in semantic construction of Iraq's invasion causes to Iran.



Methodology
This research as a "temporal" research type, investigates based on the discourse model of Laclau and Mouffe; the equivalence of Islamic Revolution discourse components in the semantic construction of Iraq's invasion geopolitical factors to Iran. In this regard, while referring to and interpreting the texts and works of this discourse commentators studied how the semantic construction of components; consists of land, border disputes, and territorial expansion of the Iraqi Baath party. Also, is studied how to interpret this war to create social solidarity among the Iranian people and reject internal rival discourses.

Results and discussion
At the beginning the victory of revolution in Iran in 1979, there was a conflict between Islamic revolution discourse and other discourses, including leftist discourse inclined to Marxism and liberal nationalist discourse. With the hegemonic of Islamic Revolution discourse; conceptualization of war was represented based on religious genealogy and its reflection based on war concept of heresy (the ruling Baath party in Iraq) against true Islam (Iran). Therefore, the defense of Iran's geographical borders against Iraq was presented as a defense the divine nature of humans, and contrary to the nationalist discourse, it was not interpreted solely to prevent the occupation of Iran's territory. This discourse by highlighting the Shiism historical metaphors; tried to strengthen the war metaphysical axes in accordance with Shiite mythological concepts in order to reject the discursive rivals. From the Laclau and Mouffe view; The positive summoning of the past has been one of the oldest efforts by political power to legitimize how to create solidarity and build harmony and highlight the semantic break with competing discourses. In particular, the mythmaking the Islamic Revolution discourse interpreters and rulers about wars patterns of the Prophet of Islam and Shiite leaders, played an important role in shaping the sanctity of Iran’s territory against the Iraq invasion. On the other hand, Islamic revolution discourse used a method of general mobilization, activation and guidance of social values, which relied on geopolitical components; was legitimized under the title of Islamic nation borders. In this discourse, extraction of spiritual themes such as jihad, martyrdom and sacrifice for Islamic Ummah, caused this war to be considered as preservation of the Islamic Ummah territorial integrity against the infidels. So, under Islamic Ummeh political geography, Islamic values should spread beyond its geographical borders and will be provided background for emergence of numerous centers in favor of Islamic Revolution discourse in Islamic world political geography. Also, in the geopolitical reading of this discourse was attempted by showing the collapse of Iraq's aggression was represented Iran's political-military efficiency.


Conclusion
Between 1980 and 1985, with the domination of political Islam discourse, on a national scale war concept for alienation with liberal and Marxist discourse was constructed in such a way that built social cohesion by sanctifying the territory. On a transnational scale, alienation and rejection of regional secular governments and Arab nationalism ruling in Iraq; was represented in the form of conflict between Islam and disbelief. This discourse by turning geopolitical components such as territory and border and state into a "religious matter"; was able to turn their defense into a social responsibility. Comparing the Iran-Iraq war with the battles of the Prophet and Shia imams caused the territorial position of Iran to be regarded as the geographical origin sanctity of the beginning of Islam. Therefore, according to Laclau and Mouffe's viewpoint, it can be confirmed that by creating a network of meanings, Islamic revolution discourse was able to put the Iran-Iraq war in the service of marginalizing competing discourses on both national and transnational scales.In addition, with the anti-western bias of political Islam discourse, war geopolitical reading found a double echo in the conflict context between Islamic territory and polytheism territory. So, the Baath government in Iraq was considered as a western governments puppet in order to weaken the Islamic revolution ideals and true Islam.