US-Iran Affairs Through Images and Perceptions: First Impressions (1830-1914)

Year 2021, Volume: 8 Issue: 1, 13 - 47, 30.06.2021

Selin Bölme

https://doi.org/10.26513/tocd.907794

Cited By: 1

Abstract

In the international relations literature, US-Iran relations are usually examined in a narrow time frame. In these analyses, scholars examine the bilateral relationship by taking either the 1953 Mossadiq coup or the 1979 Islamic Revolution as milestone. However, it is possible to trace back the unofficial relations of the US with Iran to the 1830s and the diplomatic relations to the 1850s. Drawing on image theory, this study seeks to examine these two countries’ first impressions of each other during the period of 1830-1914. It argues that just like in human relations, the images and perceptions states develop of one another in their first encounters can have a long-lasting impact on their relations. During the period under review, the knowledge that the two countries had of each other was extremely limited, even more so for Iran. The US and Iran had unrealistic images of each other based on their perceptions shaped by their self-images, cultures, historical information, and international conjecture at the time. These unrealistic viewpoints prevented them from assessing each other accurately and created false expectations.

Keywords

US-Iran Relations, US, Iran, Image Theory, History of Iran

İmajlar ve Algılar Üzerinden ABD-İran İlişkileri: İlk İzlenimler (1830-1914)

Abstract

ABD-İran ilişkileri, uluslararası ilişkiler literatüründe dar bir zaman aralığına sıkışmıştır. İki ülke ilişkisi genellikle ya 1953 Mussadık darbesi ya da 1979 İslam Devrimi milat alınarak incelenmektedir. Oysa ABD’nin İran’la olan gayri resmi ilişkilerini 1830’lara, diplomatik ilişkilerini ise 1850’lere kadar götürmek mümkündür. İki ülkenin birbirine dair ilk izleniminin ne olduğu sorusu ile yola çıkan bu çalışma, ABD-İran ilişkilerinde 1830-1914 dönemini imaj teorisi çerçevesinde incelemektedir. Çalışma, insan ilişkilerinde olduğu gibi devletlerarası ilişkilerde de ilk karşılaşma anında edinilen imajların ve algıların uzun vadede ilişkiler üzerinde etki bırakabileceği iddiasından yola çıkmaktadır. İncelenen dönemde her iki ülkenin birbirileri hakkında sahip olduğu bilgi, İran’ınki daha az olmak üzere, son derece kısıtlıdır. ABD ve İran, benlik imajlarından, kültürlerinden, tarih bilgilerinden ve uluslararası konjektürden süzülen algıları ile birbirlerine dair gerçekçi olmayan imajlar oluşturmuşlardır. Bu gerçek dışılık iki tarafın da birbirini doğru değerlendirmesini engellemiş, yanlış beklentiler yaratmıştır.

Keywords

ABD-İran İlişkileri, İran, ABD, İmaj Teorisi, İran Tarihi

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