The Role of Identity-Semantic Ideals of Executive Elites in Iran's Foreign Policy (1368-1376)

Researchers use various political science and international relations theories with modifications to analyze Hashemi's foreign policy in the period 1368-1376. Most writers believe Hashemi's foreign policy was realistic according to materialist and rationalist theories, and the power-ideology equation changed in favor of power during this period. Others, using liberal-capitalist approaches, argue that Hashemi's government tended to converge with international economic and financial institutions and organizations. However, the above research vacuum is ignoring the government and society identity components in this period and its impact on foreign policy. The identity of political actors has a decisive effect on their behavior in the international arena; therefore, the identity of the Islamic Republic of Iran has been an influential factor in the foreign policy of this country. With the descriptive-analytical method, the present study aimed to examine the effect of identity ideals on Hashemi's foreign policy. The hypothesis of this research is: Hashemi's policy-making and foreign policy orientation are influenced by the identity components of the domestic executive political elites and the dominance of the Westernist identity discourse over the international system after the collapse of the Soviet Union.