Iran’s Sacred Duty: Advocating Palestine in the Face of National Identity Challenges

Year 2024, Volume: 8 Issue: 2, 309 - 333

Nazife Selcen Pınar Akgül

https://doi.org/10.33201/iranian.1476211

Abstract

The Islamic Republic of Iran’s approach to the Palestinian issue since the revolution is characterized by its complexity and intricacy. This article proposes a framework centered on the dynamic interaction between 'self and other' to analyze how identity shapes Iran's policy toward Palestine. Departing from the premise that Iran's foreign policy on this issue is influenced by multiple identities rather than a singular one, the study underscores the notion that these identities can both contest and complete each other. The research seeks the narratives articulated by Iranian elites regarding the Palestine issue. It also handles the Iran decision-maker’s discourses regarding developments after October 7, 2023, and the invasion of Gaza. While the aim is to focus on how Iran’s national identity has been tested and challenged on the Palestinian matter, the analysis also tries to illuminate how elite discourse has reshaped foreign policy narratives.

Keywords

Foreign Policy, National Identity, Self &Other, Discourse, Palestine Issue

İran’ın Kutsal Görevi: Ulusal Kimlik Meydan Okuması Karşısında Filistin'i Savunmak

Abstract

İran İslam Cumhuriyeti'nin devrimden bu yana Filistin meselesine yaklaşımı, karmaşıklığı ve giriftliği ile karakterize edilmektedir. Bu makale, kimliğin İran'ın Filistin politikasını nasıl şekillendirdiğini analiz etmek için 'benlik ve öteki' arasındaki dinamik etkileşime odaklanan bir çerçeve önermektedir. İran'ın dış politikasının tek bir kimlikten ziyade birden fazla kimlikten etkilendiği varsayımından yola çıkan çalışma, bu kimliklerin hem rekabet edebileceği hem de birbirini tamamlayabileceği fikrinin altını çiziyor. Araştırma, İranlı elitlerin Filistin meselesine ilişkin dile getirdiği anlatıları derinlemesine inceliyor. Ayrıca İran'daki karar vericilerin 7 Ekim 2023 sonrası gelişmeler ve Gazze'nin işgaline ilişkin söylemleri de ele alınıyor. Amaç, İran’ın ulusal kimliğinin nasıl sınandığına ve Filistin meselesinde nasıl meydan okuduğuna odaklanmak olsa da analiz elit söylemlerinin dış politika anlatılarını nasıl yeniden şekillendirdiğini de aydınlatmaya çalışıyor.

Keywords

Dış Politika, Milli Kimlik, Benlik ve Öteki, Söylem, Filistin Meselesi

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