IMPLICATIONS OF THE ARAB SPRING FOR IRAN’S POLICY TOWARDS THE MIDDLE EAST

Year 2015, Volume: 6 Issue: 2, 54 - 78, 01.01.2015

Bayram Sinkaya

Abstract

This article attempts to review effects of the Arab Spring on Iran’s policy toward the Middle East. It argues that Iran could not have developed a consistent policy towards the region, because implications of the Arab Spring have varied in time in accordance with subsequent, emerging developments. The initial optimism of the Iranian leadership with regard to the Arab upheavals, gave way to prudent caution and rising anxiety as the expected opportunities brought by upheavals were overwhelmed by new challenges to Iran’s regional strategy. With a new approach to foreign policy that highlighted moderation and constructive interaction with international actors, new Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has striven to neutralize the Arab Spring’s adverse effects on the regional policy of Iran

Keywords

Arab Spring, Middle East, Iran, Rouhani, Shiite Axis

ARAP BAHARI’NIN İRAN’IN ORTADOĞU POLİTİKASINA ETKİLERİ

Abstract

Bu makale, Arap Baharı’nın İran’ın Ortadoğu politikası üzerindeki etkilerini incelemeyi amaçlamıştır. Arap Baharı’nın etkilerinin sonradan ortaya çıkan gelişmelere bağlı olarak zamanla değişmesi nedeniyle İran’ın bu dönemde tutarlı bir bölge politikası geliştiremediği iddia edilmektedir. Arap isyanlarının İran’ın önünde açacağı düşünülen fırsatlar gerçekleşmemiş, üstelik İran’ın bölgesel siyaseti için yeni tehditler ortaya çıkmıştır. Bu nedenle, Arap isyanlarının başlangıcında oldukça iyimser olan İranlı liderler zamanla daha ihtiyatlı bir yaklaşım geliştirmiş ve bölgesel gelişmeleri endişeyle izlemiştir. Yeni Cumhurbaşkanı Hasan Ruhani, dış politikada itidal ve uluslararası aktörler ile yapıcı etkileşimi öne çıkaran bir yaklaşımla Arap Baharı’nın İran’ın bölge siyaseti üzerindeki menfi tesirlerini etkisizleştirmeye çalışmaktadır

Keywords

Arap Baharı, Orta Doğu, İran, Ruhani, Şii Ekseni

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