نشریه تحقیقات سیاسی و بین المللی
پیاپی 15 (تابستان 1392)

In recent years India has progressed and developed considerably in different fields especially in economic and military aspects. India is also located in a sensitive and strategic location in South Asia. It is proximate to China, Iran and Pakistan and therefore has attracted the attention of international actors especially Israel. For the above reasons and the suitable place of India in the region Israel in recent years has tried to expand her relations with India in every possible way. In this way by her presence and influence in India achieve her long term political and military objectives in the region. The methodology used in this paper is qualitative based on descriptive analytical approach. The data and information for the paper have been collected from library sources, internet sources and other related research based on both thematic and content analysis method. The main question in this study is what is the effect of strategic relations of India with Israel on interest of Islamic Republic of Iran? The hypothesis of the study is the increase of relationship between India and Israel in recent years has jeopardized national interest of Iran in the region in political, economic and military aspect especially on bilateral relations of Iran and India. The finding of the study shows that in recent years the relations between India and Israel have been increasing and the topic of these cooperation pertains to scientific and technological field, military, sale of defense equipment, espionage satellites. As a result India has become a suitable base in the region for the presence of Israeli forces. Therefore, the expansion of relations between India and Israel has led to creation of a distance between India and Iran and an obstacle on close relations between the two. On the whole the relations of India with Israel in different fields like economy, political relations and technology is against the national interests of Islamic Republic of Iran in the region.

After decades of neglecting the role of culture in international relations, in recent years again attention has been paid to this factor. Nevertheless, once the discussion about the role and place of culture in international relations and politics arises there are different and at time misleading interpretation about the concept. The aim of the present article is to identify the links between culture and international relations. For this reason the article examines different texts which have focused on the subjects of culture and international relations. The study shows that although the scope of culture includes cultural policy priorities in foreign policy and thus cultural relations of nations, it is far from being limited to that. The impact of culture on foreign policy decision making, the role of cultural differences, as in looking into international system, in making misunderstandings, disputes and conflicts cover some other aspects of the relevancy. Finally the classification comes to an end by reviewing Ned Lebow’s cultural theory of international relations.

The foreign policy of different countries can be evaluated on the basis of several approaches. According to constructivist approach the structure of international system and the foreign policy behavior of the countries are not something predetermined but it is the outcome of constant interaction of structures and actors which act according to their subjective value system and eventually create a reality in a common mentality. In reply to the question that the relation between constructivism and foreign policy can be analyzed one can say that the relations between identity and interests in foreign policy behavior or Islamic Republic of Iran can be studies within the framework of the triple orders viz. realistic, liberalistic and constructivist. The finding of the study shows that among the foreign policy behavior of the Islamic Republic of Iran indexes and the triple orders, the constructivist approach is more prominent due to her normative and revisionist behavior.

The occurrence of the third industrial revolution called digital revolution in the field of communication in the last decade of twentieth century led to a development which is called globalization. There is no consensus among the researchers regarding the definition, nature and consequences of this development. Nevertheless the globalization has different consequences in political, social and cultural areas which among them are the diminishing importance of borders and governments instead the nations have become nearer to each other. One of the important developments in the global age is the formation of social movements in the past one year in Islamic countries, right form the Persian Gulf region extending till North Africa. Most of these movements have a coalition nature and one of the dominant discourses in them is religious discourse and emphasis on revival of Islamic identity. The strong presence of religious discourse in social movements of Islamic countries led to this point that many researchers consider these movements as Islamic awakening. The formation of Islamic awakening movements in globalization era raised an important question whether the return of Islamic nations to religion for defining their identity is the consequence of globalization or it is an answer to challenges posed by global culture to religious identity of Muslim nations? A thought in the pace of developments and events shows that the answer to both questions is positive, in the sense that the recent Islamic awakening on the one side is the repercussion of globalization and on the other hand it is an answer to the challenges posed to the spiritual identity of the Muslim nations from global culture. The purpose of writing the present paper is giving answer to above questions and verifying the given hypothesis with a descriptive-analytical method by using library material and documents.

The success of Iran in enrichment of uranium and obtaining nuclear fuel cycle has provoked mixed reactions from international community. Some of the countries including the United States and her allies did not hesitate in showing their strongest opposition to Iran They have made hue and cry and tried to present Iran as a country which is a threat to peace. They have sent Iran’s nuclear case to Security Council and are issuing resolution calling for sanction against Iran. In this way they are forcing Iran to stop her peaceful nuclear activities. In this direction the European statesmen under the pressure of the United States and with the intention of exerting pressure on Iranian oil revenue and economy brought up the issue of sanction against Iran. The European Union in the direction of implementing Security Council resolution 1929 followed the boycott of purchasing oil from Iran. The European Union referred to preamble of the resolution as a legal base for their action against Iran. The present paper wants to explain whether this oil sanction can be continued or it will be discontinued in the year 2012.

The foreign policy of eleventh administration (Hassan Rouhani government) is based on what principle and orientations? These principle and orientations are according to what foreign policy model? In reply to above questions the following hypothesis can be given; taking into consideration the experience of Mr. Rouhani as the secretary of National Security Council, his articles, books and speeches and his debate during presidential election campaign on can conclude that the foreign policy of the Eleventh Administration as “constructive interaction with the world within the framework of development oriented government. This foreign policy prepares the ground for economic growth and development within the framework of Twenty Years Perspective Plan, through détente, confidence building, avoiding securitization, improving the prestige and façade of Iran, active diplomacy and ties with other countries and international organizations. According to Mr. Rouhani during the past years the foreign policy by increasing tension and pursuing radical policies had pushed Iran towards a security centered phase and have created serious obstacle for achieving economic growth and development of the country. Therefore, for putting back the country on the right track as being prescribed by document on Twenty Years Perspective (Iran in the year 1404 Iranian year) a development oriented government should hold the power. A government that its priority should be constructive interaction with the world and in this way prepares the suitable ground for economic growth and development. With these points in view the purpose of the present article is to examine by a descriptive analytical method the foreign policy of Rouhani government on the basis of constructive interaction with the world and the development oriented policy.

The foreign policy behavior of the countries at the international level more than anything is the reflection of pursuit of national interests; the way they perceive it. Therefore, for understanding the behavior of a particular government towards a particular region, best way is to identify the long term and short term interests of that country in the said region on the basis of the capabilities and limitations of that government on the one side and the pull and push factors of the region on the other side. On the basis of such understanding of foreign relations of a country, the paper wants to study the nature of the interests of China in the Persian Gulf region. The study come to the conclusion that there are three areas in which there is linkage of China’s interests with the countries of the of Persian Gulf region. These three areas are viz. the issue of energy priority, political, military-strategic linkage and eventually economic-commercial interests. The authors believe that from the ontological viewpoint these three areas are inseparable and interconnected. Therefore, such differentiation takes place merely for analytical purpose and for having a clearer understanding of the subject. The methodology used in the present paper is qualitative. However, while using data it makes use of both qualitative and quantitative data with library material collection approach. The finding of the study is that the foreign policy of China in the Persian Gulf region is dominantly an economic centered foreign policy and other priorities are subordinated to this main orientation.