Iran's Neighborhood Policy: A Strategic Choice or Foreign Policy Necessity

Baizidi, Rahim

doi:10.22034/irfa.2023.210014

Iran's Neighborhood Policy: A Strategic Choice or Foreign Policy Necessity

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Rahim Baizidi

Head of International Relations Department, Institute for Strategic Research and PhD of International Relations, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

10.22034/irfa.2023.210014

Abstract

Neighborhood policy can be explained by various strategies throughout different eras and actors, important states like China, the European Union (commonly referred to as "neighborhood policy"), Turkey with its "zero tension with neighbors" approach, India under the "Neighborhood First" policy, and Iran, which has developed its own "Neighborhood Policy." Essentially, neighborhood policy is defined as a strategy that prioritizes relationships with neighboring countries within a nation’s foreign policy framework. This article seeks to address a key question: Is Iran's implementation of its neighborhood policy a strategic choice or a short-term necessity stemming from specific challenges, such as sanctions? The hypothesis of this research posits that Iran's adoption of this policy is primarily a functional necessity in response to pressing foreign policy issues. However, it also suggests that this policy could evolve into a long-term strategic framework if it expands into other areas.

Keywords

Iran

foreign policy

neighborhood policy

strategy

Article Title Persian

سیاست همسایگی ایران: انتخاب راهبردی یا ضرورت سیاست خارجی

Author Persian

رحیم بایزیدی

مدیر گروه روابط بین الملل، پژوهشکده تحقیقات راهبردی و دکترای روابط بین الملل دانشگاه تهران.

Abstract Persian

سیاست همسایگی را می توان از راهبردهایی معرفی کرد در طول دوران های مختلف توسط برخی بازیگران و دولت های مهم جهانی از قبیل چین، اتحادیه اروپا تحت عنوان «سیاست همسایگی»، ترکیه تحت عنوان «تنش صفر با همسایگان»، هندوستان تحت عنوان «سیاست اول همسایگی» و ایران تحت عنوان «سیاست همسایگی» دنبال شده است. سیاست همسایگی را می توان راهبردی تعریف کرد که در چارچوب آن روابط با کشورهای همسایه در اولویت سیاست خارجی یک کشور قرار می گیرد. در این مقاله این پرسش کلیدی طرح می شود که اتخاذ سیاست همسایگی توسط ایران یک انتخاب راهبردی است یا ضرورتی کوتاه مدت در مواجهه با برخی مسائل و ضرورت های سیاست خارجی از قبیل مسئله تحریم ها؟ فرضیه پژوهش حاضر، با استفاده از روش موردپژوهی از مسئله تحریم های ایران، سیاست همسایگی را برخاسته از ضرورت کارکردگرایانه ایران در مواجهه با مسائل سیاست خارجی می داند که با سرایت به سایر حوزه ها می تواند تا سطح سیاست راهبردی بلندمدت ارتقاء یابد.

Keywords Persian

ایران

سیاست خارجی

سیاست همسایگی

راهبرد

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