The book The National and Territorial Integrity: Effectual Truth in Statecraft, written by Salar Seyfodini, consists of four chapters focusing on The National, territorial integrity, the foundation and survival of Iran, and finally the national strategy. This book, published in Tehran in 2024 by Negarestan Andisheh Publications, has been well received by critics.
In this work, Seyfodini regards Iran as an exceptional state whose nationality is a political concept derived from Iran’s historical and social transformations thus representing the natural continuity of Res Iranica, which existed prior to the emergence of nationalist ideology. In the first chapter, he provides precise definitions for examining. The concept of the state, its raison d’être, and the nature of “being a state.” He then, drawing on the theories of Machiavelli and later Hegel, elaborates extensively on the concept of effectual Truth. The opening chapter is built upon the Machiavellian concept of effectual Truth and proceeds to analyze its development in Hegel’s thought, clarifying why Hegel considered the Achaemenids and Persians to be the first state in the true sense of the word.
In this section, Seyfodini refers to the political practice of certain Iranian bureaucrats and grand viziers during the Qajar period (before the emergence of the modern state). He demonstrates how these officials, in practice, implemented and explained to their subordinates the principles of national interest and the public sphere a phenomenon he calls ‘The National.’
The third chapter explores the precise meaning and definition of territorial integrity and the survival of the country, explaining their geopolitical foundations. Within this framework, foreign policy is also analyzed through the lens of realist theory, arguing that “foreign policy must be the continuation of domestic policy.” According to Seyfodini, one of the essential prerequisites of a national strategy is the formulation of foreign policy based on the geopolitical character and role of the country. Therefore, foreign policy must rest upon the geographical foundations of the Iranian state rather than on ideological or fanciful notions. The chapter further examines territorial integrity from the perspective of international law, analyzing the relationship between the principle of “the right of peoples to self-determination” and national sovereignty.
This chapter, titled The Theory of Iran’s Foundation and Survival, presents a historical study of the concept of Iran from ancient to Islamic periods. Seyfodini demonstrates that the theory of Iran’s foundation in Islamic-era historical and geographical texts remains consistent with that of antiquity, forming a continuous narrative repeated over centuries. Ultimately, he substantiates with historical evidence that nationality and the national spirit in Iran are not modern constructs but ancient concepts. Seyfodini asserts that, according to these historical sources, Iranians have continuously been aware of their Aryan roots and have transmitted their historical past and national identity from antiquity to the present day.
To substantiate this notion of historical awareness of Iranian nationality, Seyfodini employs structuralist methods. For instance, by examining the Persian equivalents of the concepts patria (Mihan) and country (keshvar), he demonstrates that such terms existed in Old Persian and Avestan with the same essential meanings they carry today. Consequently, a deep-seated conception of these ideas has endured within the collective and active memory of Iranians.
In the final part of this chapter, by analyzing the poems of Hafez of Shiraz (1325–1390 CE) one of Iran’s greatest poets, Seyfodini shows how historical and patriotic notions are subtly interwoven into his verses. He interprets these poems using Leo Strauss’s hermeneutical method.
According to Seyfodini, the concept of effectual Truth stands in contrast to an illusory or imagined perception of truth; it signifies policymaking and political judgment grounded in an accurate understanding of power relations and the balance of forces beyond ideological and moral fantasies. He contends that the only framework leading to the genuine realization of the state, national reason, and ultimately development is this understanding—a sequence that culminates in the final chapter, where he defines the Strong Developmental State, founded upon national reason. Seyfodini concludes that Iran’s contemporary national strategy must focus on rapid and sustained development—an objective achievable only under a government genuinely committed to development.
