The primary objective of this research is to examine national identity and social cohesion during the Ramadan War, specifically through the mechanisms of solidarity, resilience, and collective action under crisis conditions. To this end, the study explores the perspectives and insights of students and faculty members at Farhangian University. A thematic analysis approach was employed as the methodological framework. The target population comprised students and faculty from Farhangian University branches in southern Iran. A sample of 42 participants (20 students and 22 faculty members) was selected utilizing purposive and snowball sampling techniques. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews and subsequently analyzed using MAXQDA software.
The findings of this study engage in a critical dialogue with the existing literature on national identity, social cohesion, resilience, and collective action. This comparative analysis highlights the study’s points of convergence, divergence, and theoretical innovations across four key domains:
A. National Identity: Transitioning from the mythologization of martyrdom to an organic synthesis of Iranian and Islamic identity (Iranianness and Islamicity).
B. Social Solidarity: Moving beyond mere reactions to external threats toward an “other-oriented” responsibility.
C. Resilience: Shifting from reliance on social capital to the meaning-making of suffering and psychological management.
D. Collective Action and the Role of Pedagogy: Evolving from state-driven propaganda to existential pedagogy and civilizational networking.
Ultimately, this research demonstrates that within the discourse generated by the Farhangian University community, “resistance” emerges as a long-term civilizational strategy deeply rooted in theology, history, psychology, and the philosophy of education. This perspective elevates resistance from the realms of politics and militarism to a profound cultural-pedagogical paradigm, wherein war serves merely as a stage, and education acts as the principal orchestrator of deep social transformations.