IRAN SEEKING FOR ALTERNATIVE FOREIGN POLICIES AGAINST THE PREVAILING GLOBAL POLITICAL-ECONOMIC SYSTEM

Year 2012, Volume: 4 Issue: 1, 43 - 51, 01.06.2012

Ali Haydar Senyurt

Abstract

Iran is a country abundant with energy resources in the Middle East and has been
attempting to implement a relatively independent economic and foreign policy
struggling with hegemony of the West, mainly the United States. Even though
Iran is a member of International Monetary Fund, and also an observer in World
Trade Organization, Iran with its Islamic-oriented theocratic structure has been
seeking alternative integration strategies (i.e. Shanghai Cooperation
Organization). In this context, Iran has been trying to improve its economic and
political relations with Venezuela, China and Russia that the countries oppose a
unipolar world system led by the United States acquiring partnerships with these
countries.

Keywords

Iran, foreign policy, alternative integration strategies

References

• Aras, Bulent and Ozbay, Fatih (2008), “The Limits of the Russian-Iranian strategic alliance: its history and geopolitics, and the nuclear issue”, The Korean
• Journal of Defense Analysis, Vol. 20, No.1, pp. 45-60, http://sam.gov.tr/wp- content/pdfs/9.pdf [Accessed 27.09.2012].
• Aras, Bulent and Ozbay, Fatih (2006), “Dances with Wolves: Russia, Iran and the Nuclear Issue”, Middle East Policy, Vol.XIII, No. 4, pp.132-147, http://sam.gov.tr/wp-content/pdfs/13.pdf [Accessed 27.09.2012]
• Daly, John (2012), “Beleaguered Iran Seeks Allies in Post-Soviet Space”,
• OILPRICE, http://oilprice.com/Geopolitics/International/Beleaguered-Iran-Seeks- Allies-in-Post-Soviet-Space.html [Accessed 27.09.2012]
• Dodson, Michael and Dorraj, Manochehr (2008), “Populism and Foreign Policy in
• Venezuela and Iran”, The Whitehead Journal of Diplomacy and International Relations, Vol. IX, No. 1, pp. 71-87. http://blogs.shu.edu/diplomacy/files/archives/08%20Dodson.pdf [Accessed 09.2012]
• Downs, Erica (2009), “Beijing’s Tehran Temptation”, Foreign Policy, http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2009/07/30/chinas_tehran_temptation Accessed 28.09.2012]
• Fars News Agency (2010), “Iranian Parliamentary Delegation Leaves Tehran for
• Beijing”, http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=8902181202 [Accessed 09.2012]
• Felgenhauer, Pavel (2010), “The ‘unraveling relationship’ between Russia and Iran”, BBC, http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-10684110 [Accessed 09.2012]
• Gentry, J. Brandon (2005), “The Dragon and the Magi: Bourgeoning Sino-Iranian
• Relations in the 21st Century”, The China and Eurasia Forum Quarterly, Vol.3, No.3, pp. 111-125, http://www.silkroadstudies.org/new/docs/CEF/Quarterly/November_2005/Brando n_Gentry.pdf [Accessed 28.09.2012]
• Gratius, Susanne (2008), “Idea-driven Foreign Policies in Comparative
• Perspective: Iran and Venezuela”, German Institute of Global and Area Studies, http://www.giga- hamburg.de/dl/download.php?d=/english/content/rpn/conferences/gratius.pdf Accessed 27.09.2012]
• Hirst, D. Joel (Unspecified), “What is the Bolivarian Alternative to the Americas and What Does It do?”, Quarterly Americas, http://www.americasquarterly.org/hirst/article [Accessed 27.09.2012].
• Hunter, T. Shireen (2010), Iran’s Foreign Policy in the Post-Soviet Era: Resisting the New World Order, California: Greenwood.
• Johnson, Stephen (2012), “Iran’s Influence in the Americas”, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), http://csis.org/files/publication/120312__Johnson_Iran%27sInfluence_web.pdf Accessed 27.09.2012]
• Kucera, Joshua (2011), “What is Hugo Chavez up to?”, The Wilson
• Quarterly,http://www.wilsonquarterly.com/article.cfm?aid=1807 [Accessed 09.2012].
• Kozhanov, Nikolay (2012), “Russia’s Relations with Iran: Dialogue without
• Commitments”, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/uploads/PolicyFocus120.pdf [Accessed 09.2012]
• Noi, Aylin Unver (2006), “Iran and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization: Is It
• Possible for Iran to Become Full Member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization under Pressure of Nuclear Issue?”, Perceptions Journal of International Affairs, Vol. XI, 79-104, http://sam.gov.tr/wp- content/uploads/2012/02/AylinUnverNoi.pdf [Accessed 26.09.2012].
• Rianovosti (2012), “Iran SCO Membership Blocked by Sanctions” http://en.rian.ru/world/20120606/173879353.html [Accessed 27.09.2012]
• Slavin, Barbara (2011), “Iran Turns to China, Barter to Survive Sanctions”, Atlantic Council, http://www.acus.org/files/publication_pdfs/403/111011_ACUS_IranChina.PDF Accessed 28.09.2012]
• Vann, Dina Siegel (2007), “Iran’s Presence in Latin America: Trade, Energy, and Terror”, American Jewish Committee (AJC), http://www.ajc.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=ijITI2PHKoG&b=838459&ct =3691315 , [Accessed 26.09.2012].