Behavior Patterns Governing Iran-Saudi Relations From the Perspective of Constructivism Theory (2005-2013)

Due to their geopolitical, geoeconomic and geostrategic capabilities, Iran and Saudi Arabia have a great influence on both West Asian countries and the countries of the Islamic world. Before the Islamic revolution, the relations between the two countries were friendly and at most competitive; But after the revolution, friendly relations between the two countries have turned into competitive and even hostile relations in most periods. The purpose of this research is to investigate the turbulent and complicated relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Saudi Arabia between 1384 and 1392 based on the theory of constructivism and relying on the social concepts of international politics, especially the theory of Alexander Wendt about behavioral patterns between countries. Therefore, the question of the present research is: "How can the complicated relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Saudi Arabia between 1384 and 1392 be investigated based on the three Kantian, Lockean and Hobbesian cultures or the three behavioral patterns of friendship, competition and enmity?" The findings of the research show that in the discussed time frame, the dominant pattern in the relations between the two countries was a competitive pattern, which mainly appeared in the spheres of influence of the two countries in West Asia, security considerations, and the acquisition of Muslim leadership. At a lower level, the pattern of enmity dominates the relations between the two countries and has crystallized around issues such as Iran's nuclear program and the Arab-Israeli debate. Finally, a limited part of Iran-Saudi relations has been based on the model of friendship. This research is of a descriptive-analytical type with a historical-documentary approach and appropriate data has been collected in a library manner.