Iain W MacGillivray | Yale University (original) (raw)

Published Papers by Iain W MacGillivray

Third World Quarterly, 2020

Iran and Turkey have competed for regional power projection in Syria and sought through cooperati... more Iran and Turkey have competed for regional power projection in Syria and sought through cooperation to find a peaceful end to the conflict in the Astana talks, while also at the same time confronting each other in Idlib province via proxies. This simultaneity of competition, cooperation and confrontation in the Syrian Crisis presents a picture of a relationship that is riddled with contradictions and is in effect a paradox. The question that must be asked is, how can we understand this puzzle of competition, cooperation and confrontation in Turkish–Iranian relations in the Syrian Crisis? International historical sociology (IHS) research brings in discussions on the longue durée, narratives, domestic constraints and, most important, the international which can help decipher this intellectual puzzle. Moreover, the ‘relationality’ of each country’s policies in Syria combined with IHS can help unlock the puzzle of the Turkish–Iranian relationship in the Syrian Crisis and provide insight into the debate surrounding the outbreak of war.

British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies, 2019

The Iranian nuclear programme is a controversial issue that has had domestic, regional and intern... more The Iranian nuclear programme is a controversial issue that has had domestic, regional and international effects. Iran’s pursuit of nuclear technology has divided the Middle East region and international community. Turkey has been at the centre of the Iranian nuclear debate and has sought to play a ‘mediating role’ in this issue. This article will apply a Historical Sociological (HS) framework to analyse Turkey-Iran relations considering the Iranian Nuclear Issue. It will explore the period from 2002 until the signing of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in July 2015 and will provide an analysis of the historical, domestic and regional/international developments in the nuclear issue and how this has affected Turkish-Iranian relations. By highlighting the continuities and constraints each actor has faced, this article will demonstrate how the interaction of structure versus agency, geographical determinants and historical analysis all help provide a comprehensive understanding of the constraining and enabling factors in Turkish-Iranian relations. By applying Historical Sociology and ‘Cuspness’ to Turkish-Iranian relations in the Iranian Nuclear Issue, this article provides the reasons of ‘how’ and ‘why’ the relationship is complex, and how Turkey and Iran can maintain pragmatic relations yet be constrained by these factors at the same time.

Global Change, Peace & Security, 2019

As the dynamics in the Middle East continue to fluctuate, powerful regional actors like Saudi Ara... more As the dynamics in the Middle East continue to fluctuate, powerful regional actors like Saudi Arabia and Iran have looked to other powers in the international order to help counter the growing influence of regional rivals. This is most demonstrated by the developing economic and political partnership between China and Saudi Arabia. This article offers an exploration of how Saudi Arabia has sought to use its relationship with China as a means of counterbalancing and limiting Iranian power projection in the region. It explores the triangular relationship between China, Saudi Arabia and Iran, and shows the growth in economic and political relations at the expense of established Sino-Iranian energy relations. Furthermore, it will illustrate how this relationship will have regional and international implications in the Gulf. This article demonstrates Saudi Arabia’s influence in the Sino-Saudi relationship with reference to its position on the Iranian nuclear issue and UN Resolution 1929. It concludes that despite a failure for Saudi Arabia to directly influence Chinese decision-making processes, this event sets a precedent that will continue to mature as Sino-Saudi relations further deepen into a strong strategic partnership and will have repercussions for the balance of power in the Gulf and Middle East.

The Resilience of Authoritarianism in Iran After the 2009 Election

E-IR, 2016

This essay examines how structural, societal and internal social factors maintain the legitimacy ... more This essay examines how structural, societal and internal social factors maintain the legitimacy and durability of authoritarianism in Iran. It will argue that the combination of these factors allows the state to be flexible and adaptable when dealing with outside challenges. The ability of these factors to quell the 2009 protests demonstrates the resilience and durability of authoritarianism in the post-2009 election period. This paper will be analyzed in three parts. The first part of this essay will look at structural factors and examine the power of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in the state. Secondly, this essay explores the social mechanisms that allow authoritarianism to continue in Iran by looking at the ‘dual’ social welfare policy of the Iranian state and the differences in dialogue that occurs between the regime and different social classes. Thirdly, this paper examines the elite fragmentation in the regime during elections to illustrate the effectiveness of elite adaptability in maintaining authoritarian rule within Iran. The elections of 2009 and the subsequent rise of the Green Movement will be used as examples to demonstrate how these existing social and institutional structures have adapted to continue the regime’s authoritarian existence

The Impact of Gush Emunim on the Social and Political Fabric of Israeli Society

This essay will explore to what extent has Gush Emunim impacted the political, and social fabric ... more This essay will explore to what extent has Gush Emunim impacted the political, and social fabric of Israeli society from the birth of the movement in 1974 to the present day. It will argue that Gush Emunim has had a profound legacy in Israel that has allowed its ideology to continue to exist within the political and social fabric of Israeli society. Its legacy has left Israel in a fundamentally vulnerable position internally as this movement has questioned the very secular nature of the state. Firstly, this essay will explore the impact of Gush Emunim on the Israeli political system, Israeli polity and the functions of the State. Secondly, this essay will examine how the Gush has affected the social fabric of Israeli society and the societal schism it has caused between secular and religious Jews. Finally, there will be a discussion on how Gush Emunim has created a ‘culture of violence’, which has manifested itself in Jewish extremism and terrorist actions against Palestinians and the State. The essay will conclude by arguing that Gush Emunim and its ideology presents the biggest threat to the cohesiveness of Israeli society and the future of the Israeli State.

Papers by Iain W MacGillivray

The process of democracy seems fleeting in the Islamic Republic of Iran and studying democratic t... more The process of democracy seems fleeting in the Islamic Republic of Iran and studying democratic trends is never an exact science. Iran is not your usual authoritarian state[1] and unlike its Arab neighbors, it is a hybrid between competitive elections and religious autocracy. Ultimately power remains in the hands of one supreme individual who controls and oversees a group of unelected clerics and a strong security apparatus. At the same this unelected body regularly holds an electoral process for a representative parliament that adds a dimension of uncertainty to the political process. The uncertainty in this process sees the growth of competing interests within the political system and allows the development of democratically committed opposition groups and social movements.

Melbourne Asia Review, 2020

Maturing Sino-Saudi strategic relations and changing dynamics in the Gulf

Global Change, Peace & Security, 2018

ABSTRACT As the dynamics in the Middle East continue to fluctuate, powerful regional actors like ... more ABSTRACT As the dynamics in the Middle East continue to fluctuate, powerful regional actors like Saudi Arabia and Iran have looked to other powers in the international order to help counter the growing influence of regional rivals. This is most demonstrated by the developing economic and political partnership between China and Saudi Arabia. This article offers an exploration of how Saudi Arabia has sought to use its relationship with China as a means of counterbalancing and limiting Iranian power projection in the region. It explores the triangular relationship between China, Saudi Arabia and Iran, and shows the growth in economic and political relations at the expense of established Sino-Iranian energy relations. Furthermore, it will illustrate how this relationship will have regional and international implications in the Gulf. This article demonstrates Saudi Arabia’s influence in the Sino-Saudi relationship with reference to its position on the Iranian nuclear issue and UN Resolution 1929. It concludes that despite a failure for Saudi Arabia to directly influence Chinese decision-making processes, this event sets a precedent that will continue to mature as Sino-Saudi relations further deepen into a strong strategic partnership and will have repercussions for the balance of power in the Gulf and Middle East.

Complexity and cooperation in times of conflict: Turkish-Iranian relations and the Nuclear Issue

British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies, 2019

ABSTRACT The Iranian nuclear programme is a controversial issue that has had domestic, regional a... more ABSTRACT The Iranian nuclear programme is a controversial issue that has had domestic, regional and international effects. Iran’s pursuit of nuclear technology has divided the Middle East region and international community. Turkey has been at the centre of the Iranian nuclear debate and has sought to play a ‘mediating role’ in this issue. This article will apply a Historical Sociological (HS) framework to analyse Turkey-Iran relations considering the Iranian Nuclear Issue. It will explore the period from 2002 until the signing of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in July 2015 and will provide an analysis of the historical, domestic and regional/international developments in the nuclear issue and how this has affected Turkish-Iranian relations. By highlighting the continuities and constraints each actor has faced, this article will demonstrate how the interaction of structure versus agency, geographical determinants and historical analysis all help provide a comprehensive understanding of the constraining and enabling factors in Turkish-Iranian relations. By applying Historical Sociology and ‘Cuspness’ to Turkish-Iranian relations in the Iranian Nuclear Issue, this article provides the reasons of ‘how’ and ‘why’ the relationship is complex, and how Turkey and Iran can maintain pragmatic relations yet be constrained by these factors at the same time.

The paradox of Turkish–Iranian relations in the Syrian Crisis

Third World Quarterly, 2020

Abstract Iran and Turkey have competed for regional power projection in Syria and sought through ... more Abstract Iran and Turkey have competed for regional power projection in Syria and sought through cooperation to find a peaceful end to the conflict in the Astana talks, while also at the same time confronting each other in Idlib province via proxies. This simultaneity of competition, cooperation and confrontation in the Syrian Crisis presents a picture of a relationship that is riddled with contradictions and is in effect a paradox. The question that must be asked is, how can we understand this puzzle of competition, cooperation and confrontation in Turkish–Iranian relations in the Syrian Crisis? International historical sociology (IHS) research brings in discussions on the longue durée, narratives, domestic constraints and, most important, the international which can help decipher this intellectual puzzle. Moreover, the ‘relationality’ of each country’s policies in Syria combined with IHS can help unlock the puzzle of the Turkish–Iranian relationship in the Syrian Crisis and provide insight into the debate surrounding the outbreak of war.

Melbourne Asia Review, 2020

Game of Drones: Obama, Drones and US interest in the Middle East

Armed Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) or Drones have been employed by the Obama administration to ... more Armed Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) or Drones have been employed by the Obama administration to carry out operations in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Yemen and Somalia in an effort to kill major Al-Qaeda operatives. This paper evaluates whether the Obama administration’s policy of drone warfare has undermined its interest in the Middle East. Firstly, it explores what exactly is US drone policy and how it has been used by the Obama administration and outlines how the US has used its drone policy in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Yemen. Secondly, this paper evaluates the consequences and impact that drone policy has had in its efforts in Afghanistan and Pakistan and how this has impacted US legitimacy in the Muslim world, international community and the greater Middle East.

Dancing with the Devil : Pakistan’s ISI, Islamic Militancy and Sovereignty

This paper explores the complex relationship between Pakistan’s Directorate of Inter-Service Inte... more This paper explores the complex relationship between Pakistan’s Directorate of Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI) and Islamic militancy in the South Asian Region. A brief history of the ISI and the Islamisation of Pakistan in the Zia-ul-Haq period from 1977 is explored, to understand the context of how this intelligence agency has facilitated the problems that Pakistani sovereignty is facing today. It argues that the actions of the ISI have compromised Pakistani sovereignty.This paper critically examines and provides analysis on the ISI’s role in funding Islamic militants in Jammu-Kashmir and its role in the US War on Terror, and how their inconsistent policies in dealing with Jihadi groups have further endangered the political and social fabric of the Pakistani state.

Thesis by Iain W MacGillivray

From Great Power Patronage to Strategic Partner: The development of Sino-Saudi Relations from 1998-2014.

This thesis offers an analysis of the development of the Sino-Saudi relationship over the period ... more This thesis offers an analysis of the development of the Sino-Saudi relationship over the period of 1998 to 2014. It argues that the relationship has transformed from a rentier state/great power collaboration to a functioning strategic partnership. China’s relationship with Saudi Arabia has developed comprehensively since Saudi Arabia formally recognized China in 1990, and the relationship has seen extensive economic engagement in the fields of oil and energy cooperation as the partnership has matured. In the last two decades, increased economic investment and trade has laid the political foundations for a robust strategic partnership.

This thesis will use a discourse analysis to analyse the diplomatic language between China and Saudi Arabia to demonstrate the development of the relationship into a strategic partnership. It will evaluate the case study of Saudi Arabia’s influence in the Sino-Saudi-Iranian triangular relationship with particular reference regarding the Iranian nuclear issue and UN Resolution 1929. This thesis provides evidence that over the period of 1998 to 2014, the relationship between Saudi Arabia and China has developed into a strategic partnership. The partnership will have increasing consequences in regional and international relations particularly as US hegemony in the region diminishes.

Turkish-Iranian Relations in the Post-Arab Spring Period: A Historical Sociological/Foreign Policy Analysis

This thesis offers a Historical-Sociological (HS) and Foreign Policy Analysis (FPA) of the develo... more This thesis offers a Historical-Sociological (HS) and Foreign Policy Analysis (FPA) of the development of Iranian-Turkish relations in the post-Arab Spring period from 2011-2016. This thesis seeks to explore the changes and continuities that have affected Turkish-Iranian relations by looking through the prism of Historical Sociology and Foreign Policy Analysis. Firstly, this thesis will explore the background to the Turkey-Iran relationship from 1979-2011 and outline the historical path dependencies that have shaped this relationship including political, economic, trade, energy, regional and strategic. Following this, this thesis will apply the HS/FPA framework in the analysis of two case studies: 1) the Arab Spring and Syrian Crisis from 2011-2016 and 2) the Iranian nuclear issue from 2006-2015. Through an analysis of these two case studies, this thesis will identify how historical continuities, domestic considerations as well as regional and international influences affect the relationship between Iran and Turkey. From an analysis of these two case studies, it will establish that such an approach provides a more detailed and sophisticated understanding of Turkish-Iranian relations beyond the already established scholarly discourse.

Third World Quarterly, 2020

Iran and Turkey have competed for regional power projection in Syria and sought through cooperati... more Iran and Turkey have competed for regional power projection in Syria and sought through cooperation to find a peaceful end to the conflict in the Astana talks, while also at the same time confronting each other in Idlib province via proxies. This simultaneity of competition, cooperation and confrontation in the Syrian Crisis presents a picture of a relationship that is riddled with contradictions and is in effect a paradox. The question that must be asked is, how can we understand this puzzle of competition, cooperation and confrontation in Turkish–Iranian relations in the Syrian Crisis? International historical sociology (IHS) research brings in discussions on the longue durée, narratives, domestic constraints and, most important, the international which can help decipher this intellectual puzzle. Moreover, the ‘relationality’ of each country’s policies in Syria combined with IHS can help unlock the puzzle of the Turkish–Iranian relationship in the Syrian Crisis and provide insight into the debate surrounding the outbreak of war.

British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies, 2019

The Iranian nuclear programme is a controversial issue that has had domestic, regional and intern... more The Iranian nuclear programme is a controversial issue that has had domestic, regional and international effects. Iran’s pursuit of nuclear technology has divided the Middle East region and international community. Turkey has been at the centre of the Iranian nuclear debate and has sought to play a ‘mediating role’ in this issue. This article will apply a Historical Sociological (HS) framework to analyse Turkey-Iran relations considering the Iranian Nuclear Issue. It will explore the period from 2002 until the signing of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in July 2015 and will provide an analysis of the historical, domestic and regional/international developments in the nuclear issue and how this has affected Turkish-Iranian relations. By highlighting the continuities and constraints each actor has faced, this article will demonstrate how the interaction of structure versus agency, geographical determinants and historical analysis all help provide a comprehensive understanding of the constraining and enabling factors in Turkish-Iranian relations. By applying Historical Sociology and ‘Cuspness’ to Turkish-Iranian relations in the Iranian Nuclear Issue, this article provides the reasons of ‘how’ and ‘why’ the relationship is complex, and how Turkey and Iran can maintain pragmatic relations yet be constrained by these factors at the same time.

Global Change, Peace & Security, 2019

As the dynamics in the Middle East continue to fluctuate, powerful regional actors like Saudi Ara... more As the dynamics in the Middle East continue to fluctuate, powerful regional actors like Saudi Arabia and Iran have looked to other powers in the international order to help counter the growing influence of regional rivals. This is most demonstrated by the developing economic and political partnership between China and Saudi Arabia. This article offers an exploration of how Saudi Arabia has sought to use its relationship with China as a means of counterbalancing and limiting Iranian power projection in the region. It explores the triangular relationship between China, Saudi Arabia and Iran, and shows the growth in economic and political relations at the expense of established Sino-Iranian energy relations. Furthermore, it will illustrate how this relationship will have regional and international implications in the Gulf. This article demonstrates Saudi Arabia’s influence in the Sino-Saudi relationship with reference to its position on the Iranian nuclear issue and UN Resolution 1929. It concludes that despite a failure for Saudi Arabia to directly influence Chinese decision-making processes, this event sets a precedent that will continue to mature as Sino-Saudi relations further deepen into a strong strategic partnership and will have repercussions for the balance of power in the Gulf and Middle East.

The Resilience of Authoritarianism in Iran After the 2009 Election

E-IR, 2016

This essay examines how structural, societal and internal social factors maintain the legitimacy ... more This essay examines how structural, societal and internal social factors maintain the legitimacy and durability of authoritarianism in Iran. It will argue that the combination of these factors allows the state to be flexible and adaptable when dealing with outside challenges. The ability of these factors to quell the 2009 protests demonstrates the resilience and durability of authoritarianism in the post-2009 election period. This paper will be analyzed in three parts. The first part of this essay will look at structural factors and examine the power of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in the state. Secondly, this essay explores the social mechanisms that allow authoritarianism to continue in Iran by looking at the ‘dual’ social welfare policy of the Iranian state and the differences in dialogue that occurs between the regime and different social classes. Thirdly, this paper examines the elite fragmentation in the regime during elections to illustrate the effectiveness of elite adaptability in maintaining authoritarian rule within Iran. The elections of 2009 and the subsequent rise of the Green Movement will be used as examples to demonstrate how these existing social and institutional structures have adapted to continue the regime’s authoritarian existence

The Impact of Gush Emunim on the Social and Political Fabric of Israeli Society

This essay will explore to what extent has Gush Emunim impacted the political, and social fabric ... more This essay will explore to what extent has Gush Emunim impacted the political, and social fabric of Israeli society from the birth of the movement in 1974 to the present day. It will argue that Gush Emunim has had a profound legacy in Israel that has allowed its ideology to continue to exist within the political and social fabric of Israeli society. Its legacy has left Israel in a fundamentally vulnerable position internally as this movement has questioned the very secular nature of the state. Firstly, this essay will explore the impact of Gush Emunim on the Israeli political system, Israeli polity and the functions of the State. Secondly, this essay will examine how the Gush has affected the social fabric of Israeli society and the societal schism it has caused between secular and religious Jews. Finally, there will be a discussion on how Gush Emunim has created a ‘culture of violence’, which has manifested itself in Jewish extremism and terrorist actions against Palestinians and the State. The essay will conclude by arguing that Gush Emunim and its ideology presents the biggest threat to the cohesiveness of Israeli society and the future of the Israeli State.

The process of democracy seems fleeting in the Islamic Republic of Iran and studying democratic t... more The process of democracy seems fleeting in the Islamic Republic of Iran and studying democratic trends is never an exact science. Iran is not your usual authoritarian state[1] and unlike its Arab neighbors, it is a hybrid between competitive elections and religious autocracy. Ultimately power remains in the hands of one supreme individual who controls and oversees a group of unelected clerics and a strong security apparatus. At the same this unelected body regularly holds an electoral process for a representative parliament that adds a dimension of uncertainty to the political process. The uncertainty in this process sees the growth of competing interests within the political system and allows the development of democratically committed opposition groups and social movements.

Melbourne Asia Review, 2020

Maturing Sino-Saudi strategic relations and changing dynamics in the Gulf

Global Change, Peace & Security, 2018

ABSTRACT As the dynamics in the Middle East continue to fluctuate, powerful regional actors like ... more ABSTRACT As the dynamics in the Middle East continue to fluctuate, powerful regional actors like Saudi Arabia and Iran have looked to other powers in the international order to help counter the growing influence of regional rivals. This is most demonstrated by the developing economic and political partnership between China and Saudi Arabia. This article offers an exploration of how Saudi Arabia has sought to use its relationship with China as a means of counterbalancing and limiting Iranian power projection in the region. It explores the triangular relationship between China, Saudi Arabia and Iran, and shows the growth in economic and political relations at the expense of established Sino-Iranian energy relations. Furthermore, it will illustrate how this relationship will have regional and international implications in the Gulf. This article demonstrates Saudi Arabia’s influence in the Sino-Saudi relationship with reference to its position on the Iranian nuclear issue and UN Resolution 1929. It concludes that despite a failure for Saudi Arabia to directly influence Chinese decision-making processes, this event sets a precedent that will continue to mature as Sino-Saudi relations further deepen into a strong strategic partnership and will have repercussions for the balance of power in the Gulf and Middle East.

Complexity and cooperation in times of conflict: Turkish-Iranian relations and the Nuclear Issue

British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies, 2019

ABSTRACT The Iranian nuclear programme is a controversial issue that has had domestic, regional a... more ABSTRACT The Iranian nuclear programme is a controversial issue that has had domestic, regional and international effects. Iran’s pursuit of nuclear technology has divided the Middle East region and international community. Turkey has been at the centre of the Iranian nuclear debate and has sought to play a ‘mediating role’ in this issue. This article will apply a Historical Sociological (HS) framework to analyse Turkey-Iran relations considering the Iranian Nuclear Issue. It will explore the period from 2002 until the signing of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in July 2015 and will provide an analysis of the historical, domestic and regional/international developments in the nuclear issue and how this has affected Turkish-Iranian relations. By highlighting the continuities and constraints each actor has faced, this article will demonstrate how the interaction of structure versus agency, geographical determinants and historical analysis all help provide a comprehensive understanding of the constraining and enabling factors in Turkish-Iranian relations. By applying Historical Sociology and ‘Cuspness’ to Turkish-Iranian relations in the Iranian Nuclear Issue, this article provides the reasons of ‘how’ and ‘why’ the relationship is complex, and how Turkey and Iran can maintain pragmatic relations yet be constrained by these factors at the same time.

The paradox of Turkish–Iranian relations in the Syrian Crisis

Third World Quarterly, 2020

Abstract Iran and Turkey have competed for regional power projection in Syria and sought through ... more Abstract Iran and Turkey have competed for regional power projection in Syria and sought through cooperation to find a peaceful end to the conflict in the Astana talks, while also at the same time confronting each other in Idlib province via proxies. This simultaneity of competition, cooperation and confrontation in the Syrian Crisis presents a picture of a relationship that is riddled with contradictions and is in effect a paradox. The question that must be asked is, how can we understand this puzzle of competition, cooperation and confrontation in Turkish–Iranian relations in the Syrian Crisis? International historical sociology (IHS) research brings in discussions on the longue durée, narratives, domestic constraints and, most important, the international which can help decipher this intellectual puzzle. Moreover, the ‘relationality’ of each country’s policies in Syria combined with IHS can help unlock the puzzle of the Turkish–Iranian relationship in the Syrian Crisis and provide insight into the debate surrounding the outbreak of war.

Melbourne Asia Review, 2020

Game of Drones: Obama, Drones and US interest in the Middle East

Armed Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) or Drones have been employed by the Obama administration to ... more Armed Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) or Drones have been employed by the Obama administration to carry out operations in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Yemen and Somalia in an effort to kill major Al-Qaeda operatives. This paper evaluates whether the Obama administration’s policy of drone warfare has undermined its interest in the Middle East. Firstly, it explores what exactly is US drone policy and how it has been used by the Obama administration and outlines how the US has used its drone policy in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Yemen. Secondly, this paper evaluates the consequences and impact that drone policy has had in its efforts in Afghanistan and Pakistan and how this has impacted US legitimacy in the Muslim world, international community and the greater Middle East.

Dancing with the Devil : Pakistan’s ISI, Islamic Militancy and Sovereignty

This paper explores the complex relationship between Pakistan’s Directorate of Inter-Service Inte... more This paper explores the complex relationship between Pakistan’s Directorate of Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI) and Islamic militancy in the South Asian Region. A brief history of the ISI and the Islamisation of Pakistan in the Zia-ul-Haq period from 1977 is explored, to understand the context of how this intelligence agency has facilitated the problems that Pakistani sovereignty is facing today. It argues that the actions of the ISI have compromised Pakistani sovereignty.This paper critically examines and provides analysis on the ISI’s role in funding Islamic militants in Jammu-Kashmir and its role in the US War on Terror, and how their inconsistent policies in dealing with Jihadi groups have further endangered the political and social fabric of the Pakistani state.

From Great Power Patronage to Strategic Partner: The development of Sino-Saudi Relations from 1998-2014.

This thesis offers an analysis of the development of the Sino-Saudi relationship over the period ... more This thesis offers an analysis of the development of the Sino-Saudi relationship over the period of 1998 to 2014. It argues that the relationship has transformed from a rentier state/great power collaboration to a functioning strategic partnership. China’s relationship with Saudi Arabia has developed comprehensively since Saudi Arabia formally recognized China in 1990, and the relationship has seen extensive economic engagement in the fields of oil and energy cooperation as the partnership has matured. In the last two decades, increased economic investment and trade has laid the political foundations for a robust strategic partnership.

This thesis will use a discourse analysis to analyse the diplomatic language between China and Saudi Arabia to demonstrate the development of the relationship into a strategic partnership. It will evaluate the case study of Saudi Arabia’s influence in the Sino-Saudi-Iranian triangular relationship with particular reference regarding the Iranian nuclear issue and UN Resolution 1929. This thesis provides evidence that over the period of 1998 to 2014, the relationship between Saudi Arabia and China has developed into a strategic partnership. The partnership will have increasing consequences in regional and international relations particularly as US hegemony in the region diminishes.

Turkish-Iranian Relations in the Post-Arab Spring Period: A Historical Sociological/Foreign Policy Analysis

This thesis offers a Historical-Sociological (HS) and Foreign Policy Analysis (FPA) of the develo... more This thesis offers a Historical-Sociological (HS) and Foreign Policy Analysis (FPA) of the development of Iranian-Turkish relations in the post-Arab Spring period from 2011-2016. This thesis seeks to explore the changes and continuities that have affected Turkish-Iranian relations by looking through the prism of Historical Sociology and Foreign Policy Analysis. Firstly, this thesis will explore the background to the Turkey-Iran relationship from 1979-2011 and outline the historical path dependencies that have shaped this relationship including political, economic, trade, energy, regional and strategic. Following this, this thesis will apply the HS/FPA framework in the analysis of two case studies: 1) the Arab Spring and Syrian Crisis from 2011-2016 and 2) the Iranian nuclear issue from 2006-2015. Through an analysis of these two case studies, this thesis will identify how historical continuities, domestic considerations as well as regional and international influences affect the relationship between Iran and Turkey. From an analysis of these two case studies, it will establish that such an approach provides a more detailed and sophisticated understanding of Turkish-Iranian relations beyond the already established scholarly discourse.