Theoretical Analysis of the Position of Deferent Coercion Diplomacy in the American Foreign Policy toward Iran: A Constructivist approach

Applying constructivism framework, this article seeks to assess the position, nature (unilateral, multilateral and global) and goals of coercion diplomacy in the American foreign policy toward Islamic Republic of Iran, according to the kind of interaction between the two. What the paper claims is that the emergence or maintenance of coercion diplomacy depends on the kind of determining imaginations between the two. In this respect: 1. The role of the players in each decade in the symbolic social interaction process on balancing or increasing of the Hobbesian culture between the two countries and the quality of using the kind of the diplomacy was effective. 2. In the first decade of the Islamic Revolution in the light of determining perceptions of being a hostile country, American coercion diplomacy turned to be a multilateral one. 3. In the second decade, because of domestic developments, Iran tried to change its role from a counter-system to a responsible one. Despite of the American hegemonic coercion diplomacy, it was unilateral and ultimately done with its regional allies. 4. In the third decade American hegemonic attitudes alongside of intensified Iranian counter-system role led to Hobbesian culture and consequently American coercion diplomacy had a universal nature underpinned by the menace of the UNSC. Finally it should be considered that any effort from Iran to prevent American approach to be offensive and attempt to change American discourse by active participation in international system as a responsible player could frustrate the American coercion diplomacy.