THEORIZING IR IN IRAN: A STRUCRURAL EXPLANATION

During the last few years، IR scholars in Iran have been called to develop International Relations theories from an Iranian point of view. This article seeks to examine the structural context within which such an attempt is going to be made. The five components of this context have been recognized: the international position of Iran، basic Islamic/Iranian sources، dynamism of IR community in Iran، political context، and intellectual autonomy. An evaluation of this structural context suggests that even if theorizing IR from an Iranian point of view is both possible and preferable، this cannot be done unless structural constraints are overcome.