Identity and Security in the Middle East
Homeira
Moshirzadeh
author
text
article
2015
eng
The Middle East has witnessed dramatic changes in the last few years. Although some countries are experiencing new democratic changes, others face serious problems. Some state formal relations have changed from close relations to some unfriendly exchange of words and severed relations. Some countries are on the verge of civil war while others witness daily acts of terror. The main question this paper addresses is how the plurality of identities have led to security challenges in the Middle East. The article argues that the plurality of identities may explain many security challenges in the region. Following a look at the variety of discourses that constitute different political identities in the region, their impact on domestic and regional security will be discussed.
Iranian Review of Foreign Affairs
Institute for Strategic Research, Department of Foreign Affairs
20088221
4
v.
14
no.
2015
https://irfajournal.csr.ir/article_123424_d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e.pdf
Reputation and Iranian Nuclear Program: 1997-2013
Hadi
Dadmehr
author
text
article
2015
eng
This paper suggests how, over time, a state like Iran could deliberately develop a number of different reputations in connection with international law and international relations. The theoretical and empirical findings confirm the hypothesis that states with a weak reputation in both international law and international relations should probably put more emphasis on reputation building for ‘resolve’ rather than for ‘compliance’ if intended to get the results in the short term. Using reputation as a causal variable to explain Iran’s status in the international arena, one could find out that reputational sanctions imposed on Iran, is actually due to its reputation for resolve and toughness in international relations. The paper not only justifies why states, as rational actors, change their dispositional behavior in security area but also provides an empirical study into the analysis of the interdisciplinary function of reputations in this area.
Iranian Review of Foreign Affairs
Institute for Strategic Research, Department of Foreign Affairs
20088221
4
v.
14
no.
2015
https://irfajournal.csr.ir/article_123425_d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e.pdf
Iran and the BRICS: The Energy Factor
Akbar
Valizadeh
author
text
article
2015
eng
The global economy is undergoing a paradigm shift, from a Western-dominated economic model to one that is more complex and multi-polar. The centres of consumption, production, and innovation are no longer concentrated solely in the Western economies, but are shifting to new emergence economies in different continents, specifically China, Russia, Brazil, and India, as well as South Africa, named BRICS. One of the central issues for the future of this new coalition is energy security. This concept is a top priority of policymakers not only in the West hemisphere, but also in countries of the economically emerging world in current and also coming decades. Worldwide demand for primary energy will increase in next years either and based on international forecasts, hydrocarbon will still be the dominant source of energy. Consequently, widespread energy relationships with other oil and gas-rich countries outside BRICS like OPEC, in general, and Iran, in particular, seems much more significant. The latter, as the second country throughout the world in terms of combined fossil reserves, benefits an outstanding geo-economic position. Obviously, Iran would be able to play a prominent role in this respect. So, this question could be raised that what are the main challenges, as well as opportunities for Iran and BRICS in any actual and potential interactions in energy field?
Iranian Review of Foreign Affairs
Institute for Strategic Research, Department of Foreign Affairs
20088221
4
v.
14
no.
2015
https://irfajournal.csr.ir/article_123426_d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e.pdf
Western Political Discourse on Islam and Its Reflection
Younes
Nourbakhsh
author
text
article
2015
eng
The relation between the Islamic East and the American and European West is potentially an important concept in discussions about religious coexistence. The domination of a discourse in opposition with coexistence can be a major obstacle in the formation of peace and the relations between the two worlds. The political discourse between the West and the Islamic world, though not always the same during time has been based on three main concepts of authorization, ethnocentrity, supremacy, well after the modernity. In other words, the West has exhibited a different, negative image of Islam, while presenting liberalism as the best model culture. The universalization of such a model has been pursued through modernity and technical ability. The discourse has been the hegemon for a long while. Even the East acknowledged it and developed the center-margin model of coexistence based on Wallerstein’s theory, which gradually turned into the Islamic rival discourse. The political Islam tried to improve a social and political identity by rejecting the western discourse. After September 11, both discourses tended towards fundamentalism, and rivalry and confrontation replaced coexistence. In fact, a second Cold War was developed between the West and Muslim World. It seems that such a dialogical, polarized condition would not be apt to maintain any effective discourse. In this article, the elements and processes in the formation of such a discourse, and the effects on the existing challenges would be explained.
Iranian Review of Foreign Affairs
Institute for Strategic Research, Department of Foreign Affairs
20088221
4
v.
14
no.
2015
https://irfajournal.csr.ir/article_123427_d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e.pdf