Ideology and Geoculture of Salafism: An Existential Threat to Iran; Theoretical and Field Coordinates, Threats, and Solutions

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Mohsen Abbaszadeh Marzbali ¹

Arash Reisinezhad ²

¹ Assistant Professor of Political Science, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran. (Corresponding Author)

² Visiting Fellow, Middle East Center, London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), The UK.

https://doi.org/10.22067/irlip.2026.92632.1649

Abstract

Radical Jihadist Salafism, as an "ideology of violence and terror," gains mass appeal under specific sociological conditions. Combined with the Middle East's unique geopolitical dynamics, it enables non-state terrorist groups to engage in collective action, thereby altering the region’s geopolitical landscape. Iran, due to its religious diversity, vulnerable geography (with Sunni populations residing in border areas), and its cultural position as the leading force of Shi’a geocultural influence in the Middle East—constantly confronting the surrounding Sunni geocultural forces—is particularly susceptible to this phenomenon. The key question explored in this study is: What threats does radical Salafism pose to Iran’s national security, and through what mechanisms? The research hypothesizes that this ideology negatively impacts Iran’s national security by mobilizing and radicalizing Sunni communities, destabilizing Iran’s border regions, and fostering an anti-Iranian geocultural force. This study aims to provide a practical analysis of the threats posed by radical Salafism to Iran’s national security and explore effective countermeasures in both domestic and foreign policy. The proposed solutions will address conceptual and operational dimensions by emphasizing the interconnectedness of theory and practice. The research employs a dual-layered descriptive-analytical approach, drawing on library resources and document analysis. It first examines the relationship between the religious-political tenets of Salafist ideology and its promotion of violence and terrorism, alongside the sociological and psychological factors contributing to its mass appeal. Subsequently, it analyzes the geocultural and geopolitical dynamics that shape its impact on Iran’s national security. In summary, this study systematically and methodically accounts for the ideological appeal and geocultural influence of radical Jihadist Salafism.

Keywords

Radical-Jihadi Salafism

Ideology

Geoculture

National Security

Iran

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