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Iran and the regionalization of (in)security

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Abstract

The aim of this article is to improve understanding of Iran’s place in the contemporary international system through a study of its place in the regional security architecture. Though Iran since the revolution often has been cast as a ‘revolutionary’ state, or security spoiler, a study of its international relations over the long run suggests that it is better seen as a rising power in a complex and contested regional system. Its power aspirations – not least its nuclear programme – have clashed over time with both regional and external actors, but ambition matched with pragmatism provide a continuous theme in foreign policymaking in both pre- and post-revolutionary Iran. The description of Iran as an aspiring regional power is demonstrated through a review of some of its major foreign policy initiatives.

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Notes

  1. The idea of a ‘world view’ has been used with reference to China (Foot, 2013). However, it may also be usefully applied to Iran in considering Iran’s unique history and development since the sixth century (Bill, 2006)

  2. For a description of regional powers see Nolte (2010).

  3. The support of UN action by relevant regional organizations (LAS, GCC and ICO) was deemed critical to its success (Bellamy and Williams, 2011)

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Fawcett, L. Iran and the regionalization of (in)security. Int Polit 52, 646–656 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1057/ip.2015.21

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