Failure of Geopolitical and Geo-Cultural Commonalities to Integrate Iran and Central Asian Countries

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, new independent countries of Central Asia and South Caucasus, as a novel geopolitical entity, emerged in the north of Iran with which it shares cultural, historical, linguistic, and religious commonalities. In is a widespread belief that geopolitical factors, common cultural, historical and political elements can foster integration or convergence between countries in a specified region. In this study we argue that despite these commonalities, Iran and countries of the Central Asia have not been able to establish meaningful interactions and consequently, integrate around them. So the main issue that we will deal with is that why Iran and Central Asian Countries, despite Geopolitical factors, Geo-cultural commonalities and Geo-strategic elements, haven’t been able to foster a regional meaningful convergence.
Findings of this research contend that in order to create integration and convergence, these commonalities should be translated into mutual values, a shared way of thinking and finally, into mental connectivity. Mental Connectivity can translate all other common factors to a pathway of regional integration. Without such a connectivity, it is somehow impossible to foster a regional integration. There are factors at three levels of trans-regional, regional, and domestic spheres that are on the way of establishing such a mental connectivity