Protection of the Caspian Sea Environment in the Framework of the Iranian State Approach

Abstract

This research aims to identify the dominant discourse of the Iranian state's approach to marine environmental protection. The study tries to explore the Iranian discourse's Central Signifier, components, a chain of equivalence and alienation. Laclau and Mouffe's critical discourse analysis method has been used based on the Caspian Sea upstream documents in the period of 1921-2022. The results of the study showed that the main discourse during this period was environmental protection which seems different from the (Othering) discourse as all stakeholders have not been considered. The discursive elements of this discourse are the discursive hegemony of the protection of the marine environment of the Caspian Sea, attention to the legal regime of the Caspian Sea in the framework of cooperation, attention to non-pollution, control, and monitoring of the environment, evaluation Environmental effects, attention to education, public awareness, research, and continuous reports. The results also showed the supporting evidence of the Central Signifier (environmental discourse) are: minimizing the risks of oil pollution accidents, adopting the best environmental practices, comprehensive reporting on the status of plant species, the priority protecting the living aquatic resources of the Caspian Sea over their commercial use, combating illegal, unreported, irregular fishing and illegal trading of living aquatic resources, designing and compiling monitoring databases and using the Caspian Sea for peaceful purposes. The results of the study suggested policymakers should provide the necessary opportunities for the participation of all stakeholders.