Feasibility Study Iran-China Strategic Relations: An Alliance Theory Perspective

Question about integration and alliance in foreign policy is considered as one of the most important questions in international studies. From this point of view many of the studies in international relations is based on the effort to realize why and how some of the states unite with each other. Despite different studies in various paradigms in international relations, it seems that most of the international relations theories build a consensus on the matter that alliance is the reaction to domestic or foreign threats. According to these theories alliance can be considered as formal or informal cooperation among two or several states which allied states commit to take coordinated position in political, economy and security areas. Meanwhile and from the other hand the Chinese leadership gradually gives more emphasis to its international responsibility. As a matter of fact, Chinese President Hu Jintao has in 2008 on many occasions stated that after thirty years of reform, the relationship between China and the world has changed profoundly. China has become an important member of the international society, and China is willing to fulfill its international responsibilities. Gradual increase in economical and political power of People Republic of China has caused some Iranian decision makers to think that they can illustrate and experience strategic relations with PRC. Although there are still different perspectives about China’s position in international system, but the common aspect of all these perspectives is that if China can continue evolving with it’s current rate, until 2020 it will transform into a complete superpower. From this point of view it is obvious that the alliance between Islamic. Republic of Iran and People Republic of China can grant great achievement for Iran. The core question of this paper is: If both countries I.R.I and P.R.C can enter strategic alliance together or not? Paper assumes that China and the Iran’s preferences and interests in developing their bilateral relations are driven by the concerns of political strategy and economic gains. In order to explain how and why these countries came to have particular preferences, this paper used the approaches called ‘realism’ and ‘liberalism’, two of the dominant theories of International Relations. The reason to choose these two theories is that we study both political and economic aspects and these two theoretical perspectives deal with these aspects in different ways. Realism and Neo-realism puts an emphasis on politics and liberalism and neo-liberalism stresses economy. Finally the paper will show that according integration and alliance theories in realism and liberalism approach Iran and China do not have the essential quality to enter a strategic alliance.