Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Assistant Professor, Department of Industrial Management (Entrepreneurship), Faculty of Economic and Administrative Sciences, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Mazandaran, Iran
2
Assistant Professor, Department of Law Enforcement Command and Management, Amin University of Law Enforcement Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
This study aims to identify the dimensions of entrepreneurship in border regions and examine their impact on internal security in Sistan and Baluchestan province, Iran. The research adopts an applied, descriptive–survey approach, with data collected through a researcher-made questionnaire using a five-point Likert scale. The statistical population comprised entrepreneurs, local managers, and experts in the fields of security and development in the province’s border areas, with the sample size determined using Cochran’s formula. Data analysis was conducted via Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) using SmartPLS software. The measurement model results indicated that all constructs demonstrated acceptable internal consistency and convergent validity, with Cronbach’s alpha, Composite Reliability (CR), and Average Variance Extracted (AVE) within satisfactory ranges. In the structural model, all entrepreneurship dimensions had a positive and statistically significant effect on internal security. The economic dimension had the strongest influence (β = 0.643), followed by cultural, institutional, social, and technological dimensions. Model fit indices (R^2 = 0.570) (moderate fit), (Q^2 = 0.342) (moderate predictive relevance), and a Goodness of Fit (GOF) value of 0.509—indicated overall high model quality. The findings suggest that fostering entrepreneurship across various dimensions not only promotes economic and social development in border regions but also directly contributes to strengthening internal security. Practical recommendations include developing indigenous entrepreneurial clusters, improving logistics infrastructure, establishing innovation hubs, streamlining administrative processes, and enhancing entrepreneurial skills training. This approach offers a framework for integrated, security-oriented development policies that can be applied to other border regions of the country.