Journal of World Sociopolitical Studies

Abstract This study aims to identify the antecedents, preconditions, and enabling factors required for the Iraqi Council of Ministers to formulate and implement an effective cultural diplomacy strategy. The research methodology was based on an inductive approach, using thematic analysis technique outlined by Braun and Clarke (2006). Data were gathered from semi-structured interviews with 12 experts in cultural diplomacy and analyzed using MAXQDA software. Validity was established through a two-step process member checking and an external audit. This research showed that Iraqi government organizations can implement cultural diplomacy strategies in Iraq more optimally through the identified components in the organizational, national, and international dimensions, and in the framework of the cultural diplomatic antecedents of the Iraqi Council of Ministers. This paper provides an important framework for analyzing cultural diplomacy antecedents in cultural heritage, paying particular attention to regional dimension for strengthening internal cohesion that moves beyond a siloed approach by explicitly integrating national, organizational, and international factors into a single, actionable model, offering a structured roadmap for Iraqi policymakers to translate latent cultural power into tangible diplomatic influence.

Abstract The 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21) in Paris brought together 195 countries to reach an agreement. Regardless of the environmental issues discussed and agreed in the conference, what seems significant is the global role that France played as the conference hosting nation. The country managed to promote itself as "the" eligible place among many European cities to host the conference, creating a diplomatic prestige for itself, provoking new environmental ambitions worldwide and presenting Paris as the home city, whose name is attached to the agreement forever. Yet, environmental issues have not always been a driving force for diplomatic efforts and public policy initiatives in France. Indeed, environmental protection grew to appear in the national agenda throughout decades and developed as a notion worthy of political and diplomatic attention in a long-term process, the study of which is noticeable in the European context. Utilizing Issue Ownership and Green Soft Power theories, the research employs Theory-Testing Process Tracing method to analyze France’s environmental contributions resulting in its leader role in the Paris Agreement. Ultimately, this study seeks to illuminate how environmental concerns gained public and political attention in the French society and politics, leading to the country's position in the agreement process. The author argues that an interplay of domestic and external factors let France present itself as a responsible actor in environmental affairs, strengthen its soft power on the international stage, and reinforce both national policy and international influence on the issue of the agreement.

Abstract Gender inequality remains a pressing global issue, with international organisations emphasising the urgent need to resolve it. India, as part of the worldwide community, has aligned with this imperative by integrating gender-responsive policies into its development frameworks. The Five-Year Plans (FYPs) of India have historically shaped the nation’s development trajectory, with the 12^th FYP (2012–2017) marking a significant shift by explicitly prioritizing gender-responsive policies in key sectors. This study employs qualitative content analysis to study the representation and inclusion of women in the 12^th FYP, using the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) Gender Inequality Index (GII) as an analytical framework. The GII evaluates gender disparities across three dimensions: reproductive health, empowerment, and labour market participation. This research identifies progress and persistent gaps in India’s gender-responsive policies by analysing policy language, budgetary allocations, and implementation outcomes. Applying the Capability Approach as a theoretical lens, this study reveals that while the 12^th FYP has expanded resources for women in health, education, and the labour market, persistent barriers in social norms, security, and decision-making opportunities continue to limit their real freedoms to convert these resources into meaningful life choices. The findings emphasise that true empowerment requires not only policy provisions, but also institutional reforms to dismantle structural inequalities.

Abstract The increasing expense of healthcare creates substantial difficulties for individuals, especially those from disadvantaged economic backgrounds who frequently encounter obstacles in obtaining prompt and adequate medical treatment. This study investigates how artificial intelligence could revolutionize healthcare by reducing these disparities and controlling costs. AI-powered medical services—such as remote consultations, diagnostic aids, and customized health advice—possess the ability to make healthcare information more widely accessible and improve early detection of preventable diseases. These technologies offer scalable, cost-effective solutions to bridge gaps in healthcare delivery, especially in underserved communities. However, the paper also examines the potential downsides of AI health systems, such as privacy concerns, biases in AI algorithms, and the risk of over-reliance on automated systems at the expense of human oversight. Despite these challenges, we argue that the integration of AI into healthcare is not only inevitable, but essential for the future of global health. Rather than dismissing these innovations, efforts should focus on developing ethical frameworks, robust governance, and equitable distribution mechanisms to maximize their benefits.

Abstract This study presents a systematic literature review of 24 academic and policy-focused sources published between 2020 and 2025, synthesizing how AI literacy is conceptualized, operationalized, and integrated into national and regional strategies. Using the PRISMA framework, this study identifies recurrent challenges—such as infrastructural disparities, linguistic exclusion, and policy fragmentation—and highlights innovative, context-sensitive initiatives in countries like India, Kenya, and South Africa. The findings highlight that AI literacy as a multidimensional construct that encompasses technical proficiency, civic engagement, ethical reasoning, and digital sovereignty. The study reveals that national strategies often mirror Global North paradigms, risking misalignment with local epistemologies and socio-economic conditions. As a corrective, the review underscores the need for regionally grounded, community-informed, and equity-driven approaches that position AI literacy as a foundational right and development tool. By treating AI literacy as a cross-sectoral policy issue rather than a narrow educational objective, this research contributes to the emerging discourse on inclusive, democratic, and fair digital transformation.

Abstract This study examines the intersection of artificial intelligence, global governance, and disaster risk management through a qualitative investigation of 92 Iranian experts across disciplines such as geoinformatics, emergency planning, and environmental engineering. While AI offers a significant promise for enhancing early warning systems, damage assessments, and real-time decision-making, its integration into DRM systems remains constrained by fragmented data infrastructures, institutional silos, and geopolitical exclusions. Participants underscored AI’s potential to improve response coordination and risk forecasting, but emphasized the need for robust data governance, algorithmic transparency, and capacity building. The study highlights critical ethical and political concerns—particularly in countries like Iran facing technological marginalization due to sanctions and limited access to global data ecosystems. Drawing on grounded theory and thematic analysis, the research identifies institutional fragmentation, interoperability barriers, and normative governance deficits as primary obstacles to AI-enabled DRM. It argues for a globally coordinated approach grounded in justice, inclusivity, and human-centered design.

Abstract In Afghanistan, theology forms a crucial component of the nation's cultural and societal identity, having been influenced by various political and social changes. This review article investigates the historical progression and present-day status of theology in Afghanistan, emphasizing pivotal historical periods such as the communist era, the Mujahideen governance, the Taliban governance, and the era of the Republic. It scrutinizes attempts to reconcile religious traditions with educational modernization, employing a qualitative-historical methodology. The research seeks to comprehend the shifts in theology and suggests recommendations to harmonize it with modern societal requirements. Despite the scarcity of literature, this study establishes a foundation for understanding the ways in which theology impacts Afghanistan's educational policies. By examining the evolution from 1973 to 2021, it underscores how political, social, and ideological factors have molded the substance and approaches of theology, thereby shaping Afghanistan's national identity and cultural growth. Significant fluctuations can be observed in the position, content, and teaching methods, as well as the application of theology during this period, which have directly influenced the national identity, as well as the social, and cultural development of Afghanistan. Religion and theology have been perceived as tools for gaining and maintaining power or as obstacles to the influence of power for the governments of Afghanistan over the past fifty years.

Abstract The global energy transition towards low-carbon systems has brought to the fore the underexplored sociopolitical dynamics shaping transition pathways in fossil fuel-dependent developing countries. This study addresses this critical research gap by conducting a comprehensive, multidimensional analysis of the complex interplay between public attitudes, interest group pressures, political institutions, and cultural narratives influencing Iran's energy transition strategies amidst evolving global realities. Employing a novel analytical framework that synthesizes resource dependence, sociotechnical transitions, punctuated equilibrium, and complex interdependence theories, the research draws upon rich insights from 11 semi-structured interviews with leading Iranian experts across policy, engineering, economics, sociocultural, and governance domains. Through a rigorous discourse analysis of interview data and an extensive literature review, the study examines the way in which entrenched hydrocarbon interests, institutional fragmentation, geopolitical tensions, public perceptions, demographic divergences, and cultural identities shape Iran's complex energy landscape. The findings underscore the importance of responsive communication, inclusive stakeholder engagement, adaptive governance, and regional cooperation in navigating the sociopolitical terrain underpinning Iran's sustainable energy transition. The study generates actionable policy recommendations spanning public outreach, political economy management, institutional capacity building, and international diplomacy, advancing theoretical understandings of energy transitions in resource-dependent Global South contexts, while providing guidance for policymakers navigating complex reform pathways amidst societal resistance and geopolitical uncertainties.

Abstract Tourism is one of the most important sectors of the world economy. Yet, despite having promising touristic attractions, such as pristine nature and ancient historical monuments, Afghanistan lacks a proper plan and infrastructure for tourism development. Although political issues have been the most significant barriers to developing tourism, the lack of correct understanding and introduction of Afghanistan's potentials has also played an important role in the backlog of the tourism sector. This study attempts to introduce the cities that have the potential to attract international tourists. First, the influential factors in attracting international tourists were discussed using library research. In the next step, the prioritization of Afghanistan's historical cities was carried out with the aim of attracting international tourists using expert assessment and the VIKOR technique. According to the findings of this study, the criteria for attracting international tourists are classified into four groups: a) socio-cultural factors, b) natural conditions, c) accommodation and equipment infrastructures, and d) communication and information infrastructures. The top seven cities in Afghanistan are Herat, Kabul, Mazar-i-Sharif, Kandahar, Bamyan, Ghazni, and Jalalabad.

Abstract This paper investigates the intricacies of crafting historical narratives within secondary school textbooks in Afghanistan throughout the past century. Employing critical discourse analysis, the study scrutinizes five compelling examples illuminating the complex interplay between historiography, political ideologies, and artistic subjectivity in shaping students’ conception of national identity. The first case centers on the invention of fictional historical figures like Amir Kror that link Afghan lineage to powerful dynasties, but lack scholarly rigor and threaten social cohesion. Second, the analysis explores identity distortions woven into textbook images that portray figures like Genghis Khan with distinctly Afghan features, blurring historical accuracy. Third, it highlights methodological limitations and potential regional biases that cloud academic debates on the origins of dynasties like the Kartids. Fourth, the construction of demographic averages regarding ethnicity and religion without empirical basis raises concerns about perpetuating damaging stereotypes. Finally, the ubiquitous name “Afghanistan” itself reveals imbalanced emphases on particular eras, shaping modern conceptions of nationhood. Collectively, these five examples underscore the need for responsible scholarship and factual precision in history education to foster authentic engagement with Afghanistan’s rich and diverse heritage. As the curriculum shapes students’ notions of identity and selfhood, commitment to academic accountability and balanced historiography becomes essential to nurturing inclusive discourse and national cohesion.

Abstract The current research was conducted to analyze the components of intercultural competencies of senior managers in Iraqi health organizations with a qualitative method of thematic analysis using Sterling's (2001) approach. The research community was the senior managers of the Ministry of Interior, hospitals, and health service institutions of Iraq, among  whom 20 people were reached through purposeful sampling based on specific criteria, and data saturation was reached. Data validity was confirmed by two coders and external auditors. Results indicated that the 83 codes extracted in the interviews can be categorized into five dimensions: knowledge, attitude, insight, action, and intercultural ability. The results of the content analysis of participants' interviews showed that intercultural competency can be divided into five levels of knowledge, insight, ability, activism, and intercultural attitude, with ten components of intercultural awareness, intercultural education, understanding of cultural context, cultural self-efficacy, intercultural adaptation, intercultural sensitivity, intercultural experience, intercultural communication, intercultural positivity, and empathic attitude. To achieve effective intercultural communication, Iraqi senior managers need to learn intercultural competencies to achieve a high level of communication and development in health organizations.

Abstract This paper analyses the motivations of outward Foreign Direct Investment pattern of Vietnam using the gravity theory and panel data of 159 economies worldwide during the 2007-2021 period. The author extends the gravity model proposed by Zhang & Daly (2011) to test the determinants of Vietnam's OFDI, divided into two strategy groups namely location selection and the amount of new registered OFDI capital. Results indicate that Vietnamese OFDI’s location choice was positively impacted by high levels of political stability, export relations, and proximity to Vietnam. Meanwhile, natural resource advantages and the other good governance factors in one economy do not have statistically significant effects on the location choice, whereas Vietnamese new registered OFDI amount is negatively affected by governance effectiveness, rule of law, and regulatory quality. Relatively, among all the determinants, low regulatory quality is the most powerful factor in increasing the new registered OFDI scale. As the main practical policy implications, issuing policies for promoting trade relations, launching the novel strategy of FDI neighbourhood policy are recommended.

Abstract The small and medium entrepreneurs’ and managers’ main interest is to avoid the problems resulting from the economic and social crisis during COVID-19. One way to prevent these problems is to increase the organizations’ resilience to achieve optimal business performance. Resilience helps with business continuity and performance, simultaneously assisting social, economic, and cultural policymakers and planners in their tasks. This study investigates the impact of  corporate resilience dimensions on performance in the food SMEs industry in Iran during the COVID-19 era. After reviewing the literature on organizational resilience (planned and adaptive) based on Porter’s value chain, the effects of 
five dimensions (human resources, marketing, finance, supply chain management, and services) on corporate performance were assessed. Ninety-five questionnaires were collected from food industry SMEs using the simple random sampling method. SPSS 26 and SMART PLS 2.0 were used to analyze the data. The results of data analysis with Partial Least Squares (PLS) showed that all dimensions had a positive effect on corporate performance because all the items 
had high t coefficients (t > 1.96). With GOF, the overall validation of the model is high. Appropriate changes in Porter’s value chain components (Human Resources, Marketing, Finance, Supply Chain Management, and Services) under the COVID-19 influence have a positive effect on performance. 

Abstract By withdrawing from Afghanistan, the Soviet Union collapsed and the Cold War ended in the 1990s. Throughout that decade, western governments forgot the people of Afghanistan. But the 1998 attack on the US interests in Africa and al-Qaeda attacks of the September 11, 2001 reintroduced foreign aggression of the Western governments’ coalition against Afghanistan. Late in 2001, NATO countries, led by the United States, brought down the Taliban regime. Concomitantly, the UN conducted a conference in Bonn, Germany, in which political and paramilitary groups agreed to form an inclusive government without presence of Taliban. The Bonn Agreement contents show that most of its principles are based on the doctrine of Liberal Democracy. Accordingly, liberal democracy is reflected in most of the ratified articles of the eighth constitution of Afghanistan and it was expected to be effective in a country where many political regimes and systems had been experienced. However, it faced  challenges and nation-state building development process witnessed deficiencies. The present paper uses systemic analysis of the liberal nation-state (system input, policy design, policy implementation, evaluation and outcome) to answer the research question. The question is: how have the nation-state building process and political development in Afghanistan been affected by the Bonn Agreement and liberal democracy doctrine? And how has that led to the deficiencies in nation-state building and political development in the country? Hypothetically, the process suffered from deficiencies due to the following reasons: disregarding the historical-traditional contexts of Afghanistan, weak presence of liberal democrats in power, disregard for the demands of the fragmented society, the continuation of nationalist policies, and the incorrect public-private divide in the liberal structure of democracy.

Abstract The traditional approach to international law granted states an absolute monopoly in making international law and it discussed the rights and powers of states as a sole subject of international law. However, the proliferation of norms made by non-state actors raises questions with regard to the status of the actors as well as the legitimacy of the norms in the international fora, while it also challenges the state-centric orientation of international law. In consideration of the foregoing, customary law—whichwas traditionally comprised of two state-based elements of practice and opinio juris, as an important source of international law—has been faced with a strand of inquiry: can non-state actors generate international customs?  Through 1) an in-depth survey of scholarly arguments regarding law-making in certain circumstances that could also belong to private parties; and 2) a close examination of the lex mercatoria as an example of existing international customs developed by non-state actors, this article tries to clarify a) the legitimacy crisis of a more inclusive approach to international law and b) proposes opportunities whereby non-state actors could participate in the law-making process.

Abstract This study on Indians in the Baharestan neighbourhood of Tehran investigates the nature of their social integration, and the factors which affect it. By considering integration as a two-way process, this research aims to contribute to the literature on integration, through the discovery of the status of foreign immigrants in a developing country with particular cultural, social, and religious regulations and norms. Based on semi-structured interviews with Iranian and Indian residents in the Baharestan neighbourhood, the study shows that these two groups live in Baharestan without tension. Using the theory of integration proposed by Bakker et al. (2014) as a “two-way” process, we argue in this study that the approaches taken by the two groups of Iranian and Indian residents have largely led to their social integration. The Indian minorities have preserved their own culture and adopted part of the host culture in order to respect the host community; likewise, the host community has accepted immigrant groups with an understanding of cultural differences, and this mutual respect has led to neighbourhood harmony. However, despite the willingness of both groups to expand their social interaction, this is difficult due to restrictions imposed on minorities, and insufficient public space.

Abstract Relying on its partisan principles and values, the Ba’athist regime– the period when Saddam Hussein was in charge in Iraq– sought a powerful government. Not respecting and believing in ethnical and sectarian differences and seeking the realization of national unity, Saddam tried to regulate security policies in a way in which he could assimilate the differing Iraqi society, using the policies of carrot and stick. This project was consisted of two fundamental pillars: (1) positive or carrot assimilation policies; and (2) negative or stick assimilation policies. This article discusses the way in which Saddam’s unifying principles were implemented in Iraq during the Ba’athist regime. The research method of the article is qualitative and the data are gathered from various documents and interviews with former and current Iraqi government officials. The questions this paper seeks to answer are: (1) What were the patterns of policymaking in Iraq’s national security during the period of the Ba’ath Party’s rule? and, (2) Did those patterns help Iraq’s national unity and solidarity? The article concludes that because of the specific characteristics of these policies, and considering the sociological, cultural, and historical principles of Iraq, assimilation policies during the Ba’ath Party’s rule caused numerous ethnical and sectarian cracks and consequently gave birth to discordant and disharmonious groups in the society.