Introduction: The complexity of variables in interstate relations, the periodic changes in governments, geographical boundaries, and the mindset of people in the contemporary world make the future of international relations highly challenging to predict. Nevertheless, Dr. Tayyebeh Mohammadi Kia, who holds a PhD in International Relations and is also familiar with seminary studies, attempts in this exclusive commentary to depict the future of the jurisprudence of international relations. The full text of this exclusive commentary by a faculty member of the Research Institute for Humanities and Cultural Studies is presented below:

International relations, in its broadest sense, encompasses various forms of political, economic, and cultural interactions. These interactions occur in a cross-border context and have political, regional, and international consequences. Unlike domestic politics, the international arena is characterized by the absence of a recognizable supreme authority, taking shape within non-hierarchical relations based on the balance of power. Theories of international relations are generally divided into two main categories: realism and idealism. However, in the post-secular world, the question of religion’s role in international relations holds significant importance. Studying the dynamics of jurisprudence’s engagement with international relations, considering assumptions such as the agency of nation-states and the anarchic, leaderless conditions of the international arena, can be challenging within the discourse of political theology. These challenges can be observed, for instance, in re-examining the relationship between the nation-state and the Islamic ummah or in interpreting fundamental concepts such as war and peace. Although the operational potential of Shiite political jurisprudence in the context of international relations appears more favorable due to its historical extraterritorial stance vis-à-vis Sunni caliphate, which is considered a primary rival to the nation-state in Salafi-jihadist paradigms, the lack of substantial discourse on the jurisprudence of international relations in Shiite scholarship remains the most significant intellectual challenge in this field of study.

Following the victory of the Islamic Revolution of Iran, which, as a political outcome of Shiite political jurisprudence, introduced a novel political phenomenon to the world, the question of the relationship between Shiite jurisprudence and international relations has become acutely relevant. This question has yet to be answered theoretically, and researchers often explore it through the lens of the foreign policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The connection between contemporary Iran’s identity and Shiite political jurisprudence can be observed in various social and political movements within the country. However, the question of how Iran acts in the international arena in light of Shiite jurisprudence remains an unresolved and unaddressed issue. Therefore, as a first step, there is a need to explore the theoretical foundations of political jurisprudence in the realm of international relations and to examine the nature and characteristics of an acceptable foreign policy within the framework of Shiite jurisprudential knowledge.

The approach to researching and resolving issues, while influenced by Iran’s domestic context, is also entangled with the complex transformations of the global arena, particularly evident in the evolving international order. The emergence of new powers in this new order may raise issues that inevitably demand different approaches to research and thought. The examination of the challenges facing the jurisprudence of international relations with the advent of the artificial intelligence era introduces new dimensions and perspectives, opening up a novel domain in this field. This domain can be referred to as the sphere of artificial intelligence actors or those endowed with superior artificial intelligence, alongside the physical and virtual spheres. The emergence of artificial intelligence as a significant achievement necessitates a different level of analysis beyond the traditional national, regional, and international frameworks, presenting newer issues to Shiite jurisprudence in the realm of international relations.

In addition to addressing traditional issues centered around the nation-state, Shiite jurists’ responses to international matters must also tackle emerging phenomena such as artificial intelligence. The engagement of jurisprudence in the international arena can also be discussed from the perspective of international law. This matter should be considered alongside an examination of a set of rules, norms, and legal doctrines that are universally accepted in the international arena, such as the law of the sea, international humanitarian law, diplomatic law, and more.