The Islamic Revolution Approach

The Islamic Revolution Approach

The Roots of Salafi-Jihadist Presence in Central Asia and Its Implications for the National Security of the Islamic Republic of Iran: A Constructivist Analysis

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Maryam Shah Nazari 1
Ali Qasemian 2
1 PhD Student, Department of Political Science, Khorramabad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Khorramabad, Iran
2 Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, Khorramabad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Khorramabad, Iran
Abstract
The expansion of Salafi-jihadist groups in Central Asia has emerged alongside the growth of various Islamist movements in the region and is rooted in a combination of political instability, socio-economic deprivation, weak governance, and external interventions. This article aims to analyze the causes of Salafi-jihadist presence in Central Asia and examine its implications for the national security of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Employing a descriptive-analytical method within a constructivist theoretical framework, the study argues that the interaction of fragile identities, normative governance failures, and transnational ideological networks has facilitated the organization and spread of Salafi-jihadist groups. The findings indicate that the impact of these groups on Iran’s national security is multidimensional, affecting political, economic, and cultural domains through both material and ideational mechanisms.
 
Introduction
Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Central Asia has undergone profound political, social, and ideological transformations. The newly independent republics faced simultaneous challenges of state-building, economic transition, and identity formation. Within this context, various Islamic movements re-emerged, some of which gradually evolved into radical and violent forms. Among them, Salafi-jihadist groups have gained particular prominence, not only as local security threats but also as transnational actors embedded in global jihadist networks. For the Islamic Republic of Iran, Central Asia constitutes a strategically significant peripheral region due to geographic proximity, historical and cultural ties, and shared security concerns. The growing presence of Salafi-jihadist actors in this region raises important questions regarding Iran’s national security, particularly in political, economic, and cultural dimensions. Existing studies often approach this phenomenon through materialist or security-centric lenses, emphasizing poverty, repression, or foreign intervention. While these factors are important, such approaches remain insufficient to explain how radical ideologies gain legitimacy and why their impact extends beyond direct military threats. This study adopts a constructivist perspective to address the following question: What are the underlying causes of Salafi-jihadist presence in Central Asia, and how does this phenomenon affect the national security of the Islamic Republic of Iran? The central argument is that Salafi-jihadism in Central Asia is not merely a reaction to material conditions but a socially constructed outcome of identity crises, normative breakdowns, and competing regional discourses.
 
Materials and Methods
The research employs a descriptive-analytical methodology based on qualitative analysis of academic literature, policy documents, and secondary sources related to Central Asia, Salafi-jihadism, and Iranian foreign and security policy. Data were collected through library and documentary research, including scholarly books, peer-reviewed articles, and authoritative analytical reports. The theoretical framework of the study is constructivism in international relations, which emphasizes the role of identities, norms, and intersubjective meanings in shaping political behavior. Key concepts such as identity formation, the social construction of anarchy, and the mutual constitution of agents and structures guide the analysis. Rather than treating security threats as objective and fixed, this approach allows for an examination of how Salafi-jihadist groups are produced, legitimized, and perceived within specific social and political contexts, and how these perceptions influence Iran’s security environment.
 
Discussion
From a constructivist standpoint, the rise of Salafi-jihadist groups in Central Asia reflects deep identity vacuums created after the Soviet collapse. Weak national narratives, limited political inclusion, and authoritarian governance models undermined state legitimacy and facilitated the appeal of alternative transnational identities. Salafi-jihadism provided a simplified, absolutist framework that offered meaning, belonging, and moral clarity to marginalized individuals and groups. These dynamics were reinforced by external influences, including transnational jihadist networks and ideological support from actors outside the region. Such interactions demonstrate the agent–structure relationship emphasized by constructivism: Salafi-jihadist groups emerge from fragile normative structures while simultaneously reproducing instability through violence and radical discourse. For Iran, the implications extend beyond direct security threats. Politically, the spread of Salafi-jihadism contributes to unfavorable perceptions of political Islam in Central Asia, indirectly affecting Iran’s regional image and diplomatic engagement. Economically, insecurity and instability reduce trust and hinder long-term cooperation, trade, and connectivity projects involving Iran. Culturally, Salafi-jihadist narratives challenge Iran’s religious and civilizational influence by promoting exclusionary interpretations of Islam that foster sectarian suspicion.
Thus, the impact on Iran’s national security is multidimensional, operating through both material channels, such as instability and weakened cooperation, and ideational channels, including identity contestation and normative marginalization.
 
Conclusion
This study demonstrates that Salafi-jihadist presence in Central Asia cannot be adequately understood through purely material or security-oriented explanations. A constructivist analysis reveals that identity crises, normative governance failures, and transnational ideological interactions play a decisive role in the emergence and persistence of these groups. The findings indicate that the consequences for the national security of the Islamic Republic of Iran are indirect yet significant, affecting political relations, economic opportunities, and cultural influence. Addressing these challenges requires moving beyond reactive security measures toward strategies that emphasize regional norm-building, identity dialogue, and cooperative frameworks aimed at reducing ideological polarization. By recognizing the socially constructed nature of radicalization and insecurity, Iran and regional actors may better mitigate the long-term risks posed by Salafi-jihadism in Central Asia.
 
Keywords
Salafi-Jihadism
Central Asia
National Security
Islamic Republic of Iran
Constructivism
-                   Botobekov, U. (2019). Think like a jihadist: Anatomy of Central Asian Salafi groups. Modern Diplomacy.
-                   https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2019/05/29/think-like-jihadist-anatomy-of-central-asian-salafi-groups/
-                   Erbas, I. (2022). Constructivist approach in foreign policy and international relations. Journal of Positive School Psychology, 6(3).
-                   Finnemore, M., & Sikkink, K. (2001). Taking stock: The constructivist research program in international relations and comparative politics. Annual Review of Political Science, 4, 391–416.
-                   Hopf, T. (1998). The promise of constructivism in international relations theory. International Security, 23(1), 171–200.
-                   Katzenstein, P. J. (1996). The culture of national security: Norms and identity in world politics. New York: Columbia University Press.
-                   Laumulin, M. (2010). Islamic radicalism in Central Asia. In Religion and Security in South and Central Asia (pp. 1–11). Routledge.
-                   Lemon, E. J. (2016). Building resilient secular citizens: Tajikistan’s response to the Islamic State. Caucasus Survey, 4(3), 261–281.
-                   Lemon, E. (2018). Pathways to violent extremism: Evidence from Tajik recruits to Islamic State. The Harriman Magazine.
-                   Matveeva, A. (2018). Radicalisation and violent extremism in Kyrgyzstan: On the way to the caliphate? The RUSI Journal, 163(1), 30–46.
-                   Melvin, N. J. (2001). Authoritarian pathways in Central Asia. London: Royal Institute of International Affairs.
-                   Menashri, D. (1998). Iran and Central Asia: Radical regime, pragmatic politics. In Central Asia Meets the Middle East (pp. 1–25). Routledge.
-                   Ratelle, J.-F. (2020). Transnational Salafi and jihadist networks: From an independent insurgency to a leaderless network. In Routledge Handbook of the Caucasus (1st ed., pp. 1–14). Routledge.
-                   Sageman, M. (2004). Understanding terror networks. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press.
-                   Sharipova, D., & Beissembayev, S. (2021). Causes of violent extremism in Central Asia: The case of Kazakhstan. Studies in Conflict & Terrorism, 46(9).
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-                   Weber, M. (2014). Between “isses” and “oughts”: IR constructivism, critical theory, and the challenge of political philosophy. European Journal of International Relations, 20, 516–543.
-                   Wendt, A. (1992). Anarchy is what states make of it: The social construction of power politics. International Organization, 46(2), 391–425.
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