Analyzing the reasons for economic underdevelopment and its impact on the security of Southeast Iran (case study: Sistan and Baluchistan Province)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

vahid kiani ¹

Mohsen Taheri ²

¹ Assistant Professor of Political Geography, Birjand University, Birjand, Iran

² M.A. of Political Geography, Birjand University, Birjand, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22067/pg.2021.69196.1028

Abstract

Creation Level of security around the country is the main objectives of the development agenda in Iran. Security is a multidimensional phenomenon and is influenced by numerous factors and different areas. Among these factors are the economic factors. This article seeks to identify the economic factors affecting the security of the southeast of Iran, especially Sistan and Baluchistan province. It seems that it is possible to increase the level of security and prevent the occurrence of much insecurity, by increasing the level of economic development and solving the economic and development problems in this region. The required data are gathered based on library studies, documents and other related sources and research, using a qualitative method based on a descriptive-analytical approach. Then the capacity and capabilities of development as well as the factors leading to economic non development and security reduction has been analyzed. The findings of the research indicate that the distance of Sistan and Baluchistan province from the active economic centers of the country, the weak role of the province in the national economy and the low rate of net production in the province, the neighborhood with the golden crescent of drugs has increased poverty and unemployment in the province and caused the tendency of people and young people towards the hidden and underground economic activities, so that corruption increase and the level of security decrease. On the other hand, the activation of commercial capacities in the province (Chabahar port and trade routes) as the only potential economic axis of the province does not have favorable productivity conditions. Therefore, due to the weakness of economic production and commercial activity, the activities of drug trafficking, human trafficking, energy trafficking, goods smuggling, etc. have grown significantly and some people prefer illegal and short ways of earning money. The mentioned cases have caused the deprivation of security, especially at the economic level.

Keywords

Economic Development

Security

South East

Sistan and Baluchestan

---

References

1. A. (2012). The role of Makran beaches in regional security and national security and strategies for the optimal use of these beaches. The first national conference on the development of Makran beaches and maritime authority of the Islamic Republic of Iran. [In Persian]
2. M. (2016). National Security and Economic Growth. Iran. Econ. Rev. 21(4), 905-924. [In Persian]
3. Azkia, M. & et al.(2016). Sociological Analysis of Development and Inequality in Iran. Quarterly Journal of Sociological Studies, 27(1), 315-338.[In Persian]
4. Buzan, B., Weaver, O., & Wilde. J.D. (1996). Security: A New Framework for Analysis. London: Lynne Reinner Publishers.
5. D.Y.(1996). Applications of the Extent Analysis Method on Fuzzy AHP. European, Journal of Operational Research. 95(3): 649-655.
6. I. (2009). Geographical Foundations of Southeastern Iran. Tehran, Publications of the Institute of Earth Sciences and Geography, University of Sistan and Baluchestan. [In Persian]
7. I. (2010). Land Management and Environmental Planning in Southeastern Iran. Tehran, Etelaat Institute Publications. [In Persian]
8. Etelaat newspaper, August 3, 2003. [In Persian]
9. M., Naroei, M., & Sahabi. B. (2016). A Study of Factors Affecting Poverty in Sistan and Baluchistan Province with Emphasis on the Necessity of Poverty Eradication in Islam. International Congress of Humanities and Islamic Sciences. Tehran. [In Persian]
10. J. (2015). Integrating sustainable development and security: An analytical approach with examples from the Middle East and North Africa, the Arctic and Central Asia, Stockholm, Environment Institute, Working paper, No. 4.
11. K.(2003). Economic Development Strategies.(H. Raghfar & M.H. Hashemi, Trans.). Ney Publishing. [In Persian]
12. Hafez Nia, M.R., & Romina, E. (2005). Analysis of the geopolitical capacities of the southeastern coasts of Iran in the direction of national interests. Quarterly of Geography and Development, 3(6), 5-20.[In Persian]
13. Haller, A. (2012). Concepts of economic growth and development. Challenges of crisis and of knowledge, Growth and Degrowth in Europe.
14. K.R.(2015). What is national security. heritage foundation. Https:// www.heritage.org/sites/default/files/2019-10/ 2015_ indexofusmilitarystrength_ What % 20Is%20National%20Security.pdf
15. Ismail Nia, A., & Esfestani, Sh.(2016). The Impact of Security on Economic Growth in Iran and Some Selected Countries. Quarterly of Economic Research, No. 61, pp. 127-154. [In Persian]
16. M.(2004). Public-Sector Economic Development: Concepts and Approaches, Northeast-Midwest Institute Report, Northeast-Midwest Institute: The Center for Regional Policy.
17. B.(2018). The connection between security, development and globalization. International Politics And Country Analyses.
18. Kaviani Rad. M.(2010). New Horizons in Political Geography. Tehran: Samt Publications, Organization for the Study and Compilation of University Humanities Books. [In Persian]
19. Mir Najaf. A.(2013). Assessing the Role of Common Border Markets in the Development and Welfare of Border Areas Case: Piranshahr Tamarchin Border Market. Quarterly of Geography and Development, No. 33. [In Persian]
20. Mobjörk, M., Eriksson, M., & Carlsen, H.(2010). On Connecting Climate Change with Security and Armed Conflict. FOI-R--3021--SE. Swedish Defence Research Agency, Stockholm. Http://www.foi.se/reportfiles/foir_3021.pdf.
21. Portal of Sistan and Baluchistan Province(2016). Https://www.sbportal.ir/,[In Persian]
22. Program and Budget Organization,(1988). Program and Budget Organization, Center for Socio-Economic Documents. First Edition, Zahedan: Center for Economic, Social and Publications. [In Persian]
23. Publishing and Information Office of Sistan and Baluchistan Province(2011). Reconstruction and estimation of the population of the cities of Sistan and Baluchistan province based on the year. Zahedan: Publishing and Information Office of Sistan and Baluchistan Province. [In Persian]
24. Retter, L., Frinking, E., Hoorens, S., Lynch, A., Nederveen, F., & Philips, W.(2020). Relationship between the economy and national security. Santa Monica, Calif., and Cambridge: RAND Corporation,
25. Sadeghi, A., & Saeedi Aghdam. M. (2014). Underdevelopment of Iran's economy from the perspective of experts using a combination of trial and error decision making and fuzzy network analysis process. Quarterly Journal of Economic Progress Policy, 2(4), 117-156. [In Persian]
26. Salehi Amiri, R. (2006). Ethnic Conflict Management in Iran.Tehran: Strategic Research Center, Vice Chancellor for Cultural and Social Research. [In Persian]
27. W., & Shiffirin. R.M. (1977). Controlled and Automatic Human Information Processing. Psychological Review, 84(1).

Shabani, N. (2013). Security Strategy of Sistan and Baluchistan Province, PhD Thesis, Tehran, University of Imam Hossein. [In Persian]