ژئوپلیتیک مرزهای سیستان و بلوچستان: قومیت، مذهب و امنیت

زمینه و هدف: این مقاله با هدف تحلیل تاثیر متقابل قومیت و مذهب بر امنیت مرزی استان سیستان و بلوچستان از طریق مرور سیستماتیک مقالات علمی به دنبال پاسخ به این پرسش است که چگونه عوامل قومی و مذهبی در تشدید یا کاهش تنش‌های امنیتی این منطقه مرزی نقش ایفا می‌کنند. همچنین راهکارهای تقویت همگرایی ملی بر پایه اشتراکات مذهبی و فرهنگی مورد بررسی قرار می‌گیرد.روش: پژوهش حاضر به‌لحاظ هدف کاربردی و به‌لحاظ ماهیت از نوع مرور سیستماتیک یا نظام‌مند است. جستجوی اولیه در پایگاه‌های علمی داخلی مانند نورمگز، جامع علوم انسانی و پایگاه مجلات ایران با کلیدواژه‌های مشخص نظیر «امنیت مرزی»، «قومیت بلوچ»، «توسعه سیستان و بلوچستان» طی بازه زمانی 1385 تا 1403 صورت گرفت. 20 مقاله با معیارهای ورود (تمرکز بر سیستان و بلوچستان، تحلیل قومیت/مذهب/امنیت و دسترسی به متن کامل) مطابقت داشتند. داده‌ها با استفاده از نرم‌افزار maxqda و کدگذاری باز و محوری تحلیل شدند.یافته‌ها: قومیت و مذهب به‌عنوان عوامل کلیدی در تنش‌های امنیتی موثرند. 80% مطالعات (16 مقاله) نابرابری اقتصادی اجتماعی (بیکاری 20%، محرومیت درمانی) را عامل تشدید تبعیض قومی مذهبی دانسته‌اند. 60% منابع (12 مقاله) سوءاستفاده گروه‌های فراملی از اختلافات هویتی را در ناامنی مرزی حیاتی می‌دانند. همچنین 40% آمار قاچاق کشور در این منطقه رخ می‌دهد. از سوی دیگر 40% مقالات (8 مقاله) بر ظرفیت همگرایی از طریق اشتراکات مذهبی (شیعه سنی) و فرهنگی تاکید دارند.نتایج: برای رسیدن به ثبات طولانی‌مدت در منطقه، دولت و نهادهای مسئول اجرای برنامه‌های توسعه اقتصادی و زیرساختی را تسریع و در پاسخ به مشکل بیکاری و دسترسی به خدمات اجتماعی باید برنامه‌های موثری را در جهت تقویت ارتباط اقوام و مذاهب، ملی‌گرایی و اشتراکات مذهبی حول وحدت اسلامی برای ارتقاء امنیت و بهبود زندگی مردم تدوین و اجرا نمایند.

the geopolitics of sistan and baluchestan's borders: ethnicity, religion, and security

a b s t r a c tbackground and aim: this study aims to analyze the interplay between ethnicity and religion in shaping border security in iran’s sistan and baluchestan province through a systematic review of scholarly articles. it seeks to answer the question of how ethnic and religious factors contribute to either the escalation or mitigation of security tensions in this border region, while also examining strategies to strengthen national cohesion based on shared religious and cultural elements.methodology: this applied research adopts a systematic review approach. an initial search was conducted in domestic scholarly databases—such as noormags, the comprehensive humanities portal, and the iranian journal database—using targeted keywords including “border security,” “baluch ethnicity,” and “sistan and baluchestan development” for the period 2006–2024. twenty studies met the inclusion criteria (focus on sistan and baluchestan, analysis of ethnicity/religion/security, and full-text availability). data were analyzed using maxqda software through open and axial coding.results: ethnicity and religion emerge as pivotal factors in shaping security tensions. eighty percent of the studies (16 articles) identified socio-economic inequality (20% unemployment, healthcare deprivation) as a driver of ethnic-religious discrimination. sixty percent (12 articles) emphasized the exploitation of identity divisions by transnational actors as a critical factor in border insecurity. the province accounts for 40% of the country’s smuggling incidents. conversely, 40% of the sources (8 articles) highlighted the potential for convergence through shared religious (shia–sunni) and cultural commonalities.conclusion: achieving long-term stability in the region requires accelerated implementation of economic and infrastructure development programs by the state and relevant institutions. effective measures must be designed to address unemployment and limited access to social services, while fostering interethnic and interreligious ties, national unity, and shared islamic values to enhance security and improve the quality of life for local communities.extended abstractintroductiongeographical borders have always been a key focus in geopolitical studies, playing a decisive role in shaping ethnic, religious, and security identities. as a country with a unique geopolitical position, iran has consistently faced complex security and strategic challenges. these challenges are particularly pronounced in its border regions, especially in the east, where proximity to regional instability hotspots (such as afghanistan and pakistan) and the involvement of transnational actors add critical dimensions to the situation. among these regions, sistan and baluchestan stands out due to its strategic location as a corridor between south asia and the middle east, its ethnic, religious, and cultural diversity, and its exposure to organized crimes such as drug trafficking, arms smuggling, and illegal migration. these factors make the province a vital case for examining the dynamics of geopolitical interactions.in this context, the central question of this research is: does the convergence or confrontation of ethnicity and religion in sistan and baluchestan function as a facilitator or a threat to the region’s geopolitical security? the research hypothesis is that insecurity in the province is not merely the product of external factors, but rather the outcome of a complex interaction between structural deprivation (socioeconomic) and identity-based divides (ethnic–religious). methodologythis research is applied in purpose and employs a systematic review approach. it is based on secondary sources, using documentary and review methods to collect and synthesize scientific findings from previous studies on the subject. the approach is descriptive, analytical, interpretive, and critical. results and discussioncontent analysis indicates that the baluch, the largest ethnic group in the province, face multiple structural challenges in economic, social, and political spheres. inequitable distribution of resources, limited employment opportunities, and exclusion from effective participation in decision-making institutions have reinforced a sense of discrimination and historical marginalization. for example, data from iran’s statistical center in 2023 show an unemployment rate in sistan and baluchestan of nearly 20%, almost double the national average. such disparities not only intensify social grievances but also create fertile ground for youth recruitment into insurgent groups or drug trafficking networks.religious diversity—particularly between the sunni majority and shia minority—can also serve as a potential source of sectarian tension. in some cases, sectarian disputes manifest locally over issues such as mosque construction or the organization of religious ceremonies.ethnicity and religion are key factors influencing security tensions. eighty percent of the studies (16 articles) identified socio-economic inequality (20% unemployment, inadequate healthcare services) as a driver of intensified ethnic–religious discrimination. sixty percent of the sources (12 articles) considered the exploitation of identity-based divisions by transnational groups to be a critical factor in border insecurity. moreover, 40% of the country’s smuggling incidents occur in this region. conversely, 40% of the studies (8 articles) emphasized the potential for convergence through shared religious (shia–sunni) and cultural commonalities. conclusionimproving the security landscape of sistan and baluchestan requires a comprehensive management approach emphasizing social, economic, and cultural development. respect for ethnic rights, creation of employment opportunities, and strengthening of social infrastructure can help reduce tensions and enhance security. for lasting stability, both the central government and local authorities must design and implement effective programs to promote interethnic and interreligious engagement, strengthen national unity, and build upon shared islamic values to improve security and the quality of life in the province.the issue of ethnicity occupies a prominent place in the framework of any nation’s interests. in today’s world, sustainable development fundamentally depends on national cohesion and broad-based participation to foster convergence among ethnicities, religions, and minority groups. however, challenges become more complex when these minorities reside in border regions. under such conditions, in addition to the need for development opportunities, security concerns also become a major priority for governments. fundingthere is no funding support.authors’ contributionall of the authors approved the content of the manuscript and agreed on all aspects of the work. conflict of interestthe authors declared no conflict of interest. acknowledgmentsthe authors thank all the professors and researchers who added to the richness of this research by providing their expert opinions.