The Role of Identities and Interests in Iran's Foreign Policy Towards Syria and Iraq: A Constructivist Approach (original) (raw)
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The importance of identity in Iran's foreign policy
This essay will answer the following questions: how does a particular definition of identity shape Iranian foreign policy? Do values and ideological perspectives have a prominent role in shaping Iran’s international relations? To answer these questions I apply a hybrid approach, combining elements from various current theoretical debates, which might be appropriate to understand Iranian approach to foreign policy until today. I will assume an historical perspective to frame the importance that the role of identity have in shaping the political agenda of the country. I will apply a constructivist theoretical dimension to explain how Iran has used in many cases the “logic of appropriateness” to justify his actions in the international arena, as an attempt to “do the right thing”, respecting its ideology and values. I will explore the impact of identity in Iranian society and analyze the different identity narratives, which have been defined and applied differently throughout time. I will research on how Iranian’s foreign policy has also evolved into a series of pragmatic decisions, and when and how Iranian interests have been determined either by a particular assumption of the state’s identity, or by material necessity.
The Role of Identity in Iraq's (post-Saddam) Challenges and Iran's Foreign Policy Orientation
International Journal of Political Science, Volume:12 Issue: 6, , 2022
With the collapse of Iraq's previous political structures by US invasion in 2003, all political and social institutions based on Ba'ath party ideology were dismantled and Iraq entered into a new phase. The democracy entrance in Iraq began in 2003 and led to an acceptable political participation level with the constitution drafting in 2005 and with various election holding by people direct voting. Iraq's entrance into the new phase has made regional actors sensitive to their future, including Iran. Iraq's domestic ethnic-religious characteristics and geographical location have tied its events to its neighbors and international actors. The political structure, social realities and the lack of comprehensive identity to achieve political order have created many challenges in current Iraq. These challenges in various political, social, ethnic-religious, security, etc. dimensions have disturbed the forming of a national identity process in Iraq and created the necessary ground for terrorism and terrorist groups' emergence and creation. The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of identity in Iraq's (post-Saddam) challenges and Iran's foreign policy orientation applying Constructivism Theory. The descriptive-analytical method and library resources used in collecting data and information.
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Geopolitics Quarterly, Volume: 17, No 4, Winter 2021 PP 231-262, 2021
Iraq is a prominent identity crisis example. Ethnic and religious multiplicity have caused political and social conflicting divisions. Shiites, Kurds, and Sunnis are the main group players. Kurdish and Arab are ethnic, Shiite and Sunni are religious groups. Islamic Revolution made fundamental changes in Iran's foreign policy orientation. In Iraq simultaneously, Saddam took power. Different ethnicities and identities had no expressing opportunity. US invasion and Ba'athist overthrow brought Iraq into a new and unstable phase, and various groups and ethnicities expressed their conflicting political and social identity goals and demands. Regional countries particularly Iran have expanded their influence in Iraq by changing the foreign policy orientation, to prevent others from increasing their effect. This study is to analyze and investigate identity crisis impact in Iraq on Iran's foreign policy orientation emphasizing post-Saddam era (2003-2020) applying Constructivism Theory. The descriptive-analytical method and library resources used in collecting data and information.
Identity and Ideology in the Foreign Policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran
Today, Iran is at the headlines of world media, is the centre of world's attention, is one of the big problematique of the chancelleries of the West and her nuclear programme is hotly debated all over the world and in the Middle East. Iran's bold defiance of the world's only superpower(albeit in slow decline1), its open challenge against Israel ( which the Arab states were unable to cope with since its inception in 1948), its advocating of “Muslim causes” all around the world, its full blown support to anti-Israel forces of non-state actors like HAMAS and Hezbollah and its ongoing uranium enrichment programme coupled with Iranian missile programme of 2500-3000 km range Shahabs cause awe and apprehension all over the world but particularly in the West. Iran is a big, complex country with historical and geopolitical “strategic depth”2 She is an heir to ancient and mighty Persian Empire.3 It has a rich culture, literature and remarkably well-read and educated population. Iran is a predominantly Shiite country which makes her somewhat a stranger in the Muslim world which is predominantly Sunni. At the same time Iran is craving for a place under the sun and wants to be recognized as an 'equal' with the United States and the West. It is the only country where the state is ruled by the Shiite theocracy and by the Shiite clergy (“the mullahs”) and all the key strategic decisions are made by the Supreme Leader.4 However, it is also grappling with economic problems( high unemployment, high inflation and lack of foreign direct investments) and Western economic embargoes sanctioned by the United Nations.Its nuclear programme might be considered an element of prestige and the endorsment of “rightful place under the sun” as well as a realist reading of Iran's trying to counterbalance the threats of nuclear Israel and the nuclear USA.Iran is under close scrutiny of International Atomic Energy Agency and Western intelligence agencies.
Turkish Studies Historical Analysis, 2019
The presence of diverse trans-state ethnic, geographic, sectarian, cultural and ideological identities not only challenge Middle Eastern regimes but have also militated against regional peace. State identities and regimes in the Middle East challenging in the civil society and state relations in the region. This is because the Middle East constitutes a unique ethnic, religious and sectarian mosaic. But these complex trans-border identical formations, most of the time, are challenging the states to lose control of the country's stability and even encourage other social and political problems in the region. This research will provide an outline about the theoretical approach of constructivism, and state identity components in the Middle East states, especially for Iran and Saudi Arabia, and how these state identities affect foreign affairs. On the other hand, in the Middle East, normative references, in terms of religion, ethnicity and tribal relations, as well as military-state relations and ideology, have significantly affected the state identity building process. These elements played significant roles in the formation of Middle Eastern states, especially Iran and Saudi Arabia. After World War I. the official relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia were established in 1929, but this relation was always ambivalent even in the best of times. There are many important reasons for this, such as mutual distrust, historical misconceptions, and their sectarian and ethnic identities. This study focuses on how Iran and Saudi Arabia's state identities were formed and how these consequently informed their regional politics until the end of the Shah regime in 1979.
IDENTITY AND FOREIGN POLICY IN THE MIDDLE EAST
This paper analysis the relationship between “identity and foreign policy in the Middle East” by uising the Middle East as a case study. The building blocks of the identity of the Middle Eastern people are many. Middle Eastern identity is nested with historical background, geo-strategic reality, environmental conditions, religion, ethnic or sectarian background, ideology, nationalism and culture. Although some scholars argue that national identity in policy (here foreign policy) is not very clear and shouldn’t be exaggerated. Theoretically the state is an open system therefore there is a correlation between national identity and foreign policy and even international affairs may be hindered by historical facts, identities and narratives.
Ortadoğu’da Mezhepsel Kimlik Politikalarının Ötesinde: İran-Suudi Arabistan’ın Rekabeti Örneği
Akademik İncelemeler Dergisi (AID), 2019
Iran-Saudi Arabia's rivalry is the main reason behind the conflicts and instabilities in the region. However, the political nature of this rivalry is often oversimplified by mainstream media outlets. Similarly, a significant part of literature on identity politics on rivalry between Iran-Saudi Arabia, has mainly provided a comprehensive and descriptive account of their history as well as current conditions with ethnic and sectarian identities as roots and origins of regional instabilities; or focused mainly on the politicization and manipulation of Sunni and Shia Islam by actors in their struggles for power. Synthesizing the theories on identity politics already in existence, namely Primordialism, instrumentalism, and social constructivism, this research constructed an integrated theoretical model. In this model, sectarian identity-one essence intrinsic to Middle Eastern societies and been built alongside regional history-is not only measured by its tremendous influences on political processes; but also compared in the usage of political actors of all levels in political practices.
Akademik İncelemeler Dergisi, 2019
Iran-Saudi Arabia's rivalry is the main reason behind the conflicts and instabilities in the region. However, the political nature of this rivalry is often oversimplified by mainstream media outlets. Similarly, a significant part of literature on identity politics on rivalry between Iran-Saudi Arabia, has mainly provided a comprehensive and descriptive account of their history as well as current conditions with ethnic and sectarian identities as roots and origins of regional instabilities; or focused mainly on the politicization and manipulation of Sunni and Shia Islam by actors in their struggles for power. Synthesizing the theories on identity politics already in existence, namely Primordialism, instrumentalism, and social constructivism, this research constructed an integrated theoretical model. In this model, sectarian identity-one essence intrinsic to Middle Eastern societies and been built alongside regional history-is not only measured by its tremendous influences on political processes; but also compared in the usage of political actors of all levels in political practices. (Ortadoğu bölgesindeki çatışma ve istikrarsızlık ortamının ardında İran-Suudi Arabistan rekabeti bulunmaktadır. Bununla birlikte bu rekabetin politik doğası, çoğunlukla ana akım medya tarafından aşırı derecede basitleştirilmiştir. Benzer biçimde İran-Suudi Arabistan rekabetinin içindeki kimlik politikaları üzerine yazılmış literatürün büyük bir kısmı bölgesel istikrarsızlıkların kökeni ve kaynağını ağırlıklı olarak tarihlerinin genel ve betimleyici bir hesabını sunmuş veya oyuncuların iktidar mücadeleleri içerisinde Sünni ve Şii İslam'ın politikleşmesine ve manipülasyonuna odaklanmıştır. Bu araştırmanın teorik modelini halen mevcut olan Primordialism, araçsalcılık ve sosyal inşacılık gibi kimlik politikaları teorilerinin bir sentezi oluşturmaktadır. Bu modelde, mezhepsel kimlik-Orta Doğu toplumlarına özgü ve bölgesel tarihle birlikte inşa edilen bir öz olarak-yalnızca siyasi süreçler üzerindeki etkileriyle değil, aynı zamanda siyasal aktörlerin tüm seviyedeki siyasal uygulama pratikleri ile ölçülmüştür.)