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IRANIAN FOREIGN POLICY DECISION-MAKING ACTORS: NAVIGATING THE COMPLEX ROLE OF IRANIAN PROXIES

Year 2024, Volume: 2 Issue: 1, 65 - 74, 16.07.2024

Abstract

The decision-making process of Iran's foreign policy is a complex procedure where various actors play a role. There is a well-established practice of using proxies in international relations, and the Iranian government has long utilized such groups to expand its influence in the Middle East. These proxies have become the main tool of Iran's foreign policy and play a critical role in shaping the country's strategic outlook. Understanding the concept of proxy warfare in Iran is necessary to comprehend the dynamics of the complex relationship between Iran and its proxies so that we can better navigate the region and the international political landscape. This research examines the historical background, reasons, advantages, and disadvantages of using proxies. To effectively guide the subject, the nature of Iran's foreign policy and key decision-makers, as well as the role of Iranian military organizations in shaping the country's foreign policy, are examined. Additionally, the anatomy of Iranian proxies and their impact on Iran's foreign policy is assessed. The degree of the role of proxies in foreign policy-making confirms coordination among power centres that are often assumed to compete.

References

  • Ahram, A. I., & Alaaldin, R. (2022). Separatists and Spoilers: The UAE’s Way of Proxy Warfare. Orbis, 66(3), 373-390.
  • Akbarzadeh, S., Gourlay, W., & Ehteshami, A. (2023). Iranian proxies in the Syrian conflict: Tehran’s ‘forward-defence’in action. Journal of Strategic Studies, 46(3), 683-706.
  • Bazoobandi, S., Heibach, J., & Richter, T. (2023). Iran’s foreign policy making: consensus building or power struggle?. British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies, 1-24.
  • Benowitz, B; Ceccanese, A (2020). Why No One Ever Really Wins a Proxy War.https://www.justsecurity.org/70093/why-no-one-ever-really-wins-a-proxy-war/ (18.05.2024).
  • Berman, E., & Lake, D. A. (Eds.). (2019). Proxy wars: Suppressing violence through local agents. Cornell University Press.
  • Cohen, R. A., & Shamci, G. P. (2022). The “Proxy Wars” Strategy in Iranian Regional Foreign Policy. The Journal of the Middle East and Africa, 13(4), 385-405.
  • Esfandiari, G (2020). Revolutionary Guards Commander Gives Rare Estimate Of Money Iran Spent On Proxies, Military Aid In Region.https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-commander-rare-estimate-money-spent-proxies-military-aid-region/30866922.html (25.05.2024).
  • Fassihi, F (2021). Iran’s Foreign Minister, in Leaked Tape, Says Revolutionary Guards Set Policies. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/25/world/middleeast/iran-suleimani-zarif.html. (20.05.2024).
  • Fassihi, F and Schmitt, E (2024). Iran and U.S. Held Secret Talks on Proxy Attacks and Cease-Fire.https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/15/world/middleeast/iran-us-secret-talks.html (04.07.2024).
  • Harmouch, S ; Jahanbani, N (2024). How much influence does Iran have over its proxy ‘Axis of Resistance’ − Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis?.https://theconversation.com/how-much-influence-does-iran-have-over-its-proxy-axis-of-resistance-hezbollah-hamas-and-the-houthis-221269 (30.06.2024).
  • Innes, M. A. (E.D). (2012). Making sense of proxy wars: States, surrogates & the use of force. Potomac Books, Inc.
  • Lane, A (2023). Iran’s Islamist Proxies in the Middle East. https://www.wilsoncenter.org/article/irans-islamist-proxies (16.05.2024).
  • Mumford, A. (2013). Proxy warfare. John Wiley & Sons.
  • Mumford, A. (2013a). Proxy warfare and the future of conflict. The RUSI Journal, 158(2), 40-46.
  • Nakhoul, S ; Al-Mughrabi, N ; Spetalnick, M ; Bassam, L (2023). In striking Israel, Hamas also took aim at Middle East security realignment.https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/striking-israel-hamas-also-took-aim-middle-east-security-realignment-2023-10-08/ (06.07.2024).
  • Negahban, B. (2017). Who Makes Iran’s Foreign Policy. https://www.yalejournal.org/publications/who-makes-irans-foreign-policy . (19.05.2024).
  • Ostovar, A. (2019). The Grand Strategy of Militant Clients: Iran’s Way of War. Security Studies, 28(1), 159–188. https://doi.org/10.1080/09636412.2018.1508862
  • Rondeaux, C ; Sterman, D (2019). Twenty-First Century Proxy Warfare: Confronting Strategic Innovation in a Multipolar World Since the 2011 NATO Intervention.https://d1y8sb8igg2f8e.cloudfront.net/documents/Twenty-First_Century_Proxy_Warfare_Final.pdf (06.07.2024).
  • Seliktar, O. (2021). Iran's Geopolitics and Revolutionary Export: The Promises and Limits of the Proxy Empire. Orbis, 65(1), 152-171.
  • Seliktar, O., & Rezaei, F. (2020). Iran, Revolution, and Proxy Wars. Cham: Springer International Publishing
  • Sharifi, K (2024). Iran's 'Axis Of Resistance': Different Groups, Same Goals.https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-s-axis-of-resistance-different-groups-same-goals/32826188.html (27.05.2024).
  • The Emirates Policy Centre (2024). Aftermath of the Jordan Attack: Dynamics of the Conflict Between US and Pro-Iran Iraqi Factions. https://epc.ae/en/details/featured/dynamics-of-the-conflict-between-the-us-and-pro-iran-iraqi-factions-after-the-jordan-attack (06.07.2024).

İRAN DIŞ POLİTİKASI KARAR ALMA AKTÖRLERİ: İRAN VEKİLLERİNİN KARMAŞIK ROLÜNÜ YÖNLENDİRME

Year 2024, Volume: 2 Issue: 1, 65 - 74, 16.07.2024

Abstract

İran dış politikası karar alma süreci, çeşitli aktörlerin rol oynadığı kompleks bir süreçtir. Uluslararası ilişkilerde vekil kullanımının iyi kurulmuş bir uygulaması vardır ve İran hükümeti, Orta Doğu'da etkisini genişletmek için böyle grupları uzun süredir kullanmaktadır. Bu vekiller, İran'ın dış politikasının ana aracı haline gelmiş ve ülkenin stratejik görünümünü şekillendirmede kritik bir rol oynamaktadır. İran'ın vekalet savaşı konseptini anlamak, İran ve vekilleri arasındaki kompleks ilişkinin dinamiklerini anlamak için zorunludur, böylece bölgeyi ve uluslararası siyasi manzarayı daha iyi yönlendirebiliriz. Bu araştırmada, vekil kullanımının tarihi arka planı, nedenleri, avantajları ve dezavantajları incelenmektedir. Konuyu etkili bir şekilde yönlendirmek için, İran dış politikasının doğası ve ana karar vericileri, İran askeri örgütlerinin ülkenin dış politikasını oluşturmadaki rolü incelenmektedir. Ayrıca, İran vekillerinin anatomisi ve İran dış politikasına olan etkileri değerlendirilmektedir. Dış politika yapımında vekillerin rolünün derecesi, genellikle rekabet ettiği varsayılan güç merkezleri arasında koordinasyonu doğrulamaktadır. Bu çalışmadan, İran'ın dış politikadaki vekillerini yönetme stratejilerine ilişkin daha fazla görünürlük ve değerli bilgiler sunması beklenmektedir.

References

  • Ahram, A. I., & Alaaldin, R. (2022). Separatists and Spoilers: The UAE’s Way of Proxy Warfare. Orbis, 66(3), 373-390.
  • Akbarzadeh, S., Gourlay, W., & Ehteshami, A. (2023). Iranian proxies in the Syrian conflict: Tehran’s ‘forward-defence’in action. Journal of Strategic Studies, 46(3), 683-706.
  • Bazoobandi, S., Heibach, J., & Richter, T. (2023). Iran’s foreign policy making: consensus building or power struggle?. British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies, 1-24.
  • Benowitz, B; Ceccanese, A (2020). Why No One Ever Really Wins a Proxy War.https://www.justsecurity.org/70093/why-no-one-ever-really-wins-a-proxy-war/ (18.05.2024).
  • Berman, E., & Lake, D. A. (Eds.). (2019). Proxy wars: Suppressing violence through local agents. Cornell University Press.
  • Cohen, R. A., & Shamci, G. P. (2022). The “Proxy Wars” Strategy in Iranian Regional Foreign Policy. The Journal of the Middle East and Africa, 13(4), 385-405.
  • Esfandiari, G (2020). Revolutionary Guards Commander Gives Rare Estimate Of Money Iran Spent On Proxies, Military Aid In Region.https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-commander-rare-estimate-money-spent-proxies-military-aid-region/30866922.html (25.05.2024).
  • Fassihi, F (2021). Iran’s Foreign Minister, in Leaked Tape, Says Revolutionary Guards Set Policies. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/25/world/middleeast/iran-suleimani-zarif.html. (20.05.2024).
  • Fassihi, F and Schmitt, E (2024). Iran and U.S. Held Secret Talks on Proxy Attacks and Cease-Fire.https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/15/world/middleeast/iran-us-secret-talks.html (04.07.2024).
  • Harmouch, S ; Jahanbani, N (2024). How much influence does Iran have over its proxy ‘Axis of Resistance’ − Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis?.https://theconversation.com/how-much-influence-does-iran-have-over-its-proxy-axis-of-resistance-hezbollah-hamas-and-the-houthis-221269 (30.06.2024).
  • Innes, M. A. (E.D). (2012). Making sense of proxy wars: States, surrogates & the use of force. Potomac Books, Inc.
  • Lane, A (2023). Iran’s Islamist Proxies in the Middle East. https://www.wilsoncenter.org/article/irans-islamist-proxies (16.05.2024).
  • Mumford, A. (2013). Proxy warfare. John Wiley & Sons.
  • Mumford, A. (2013a). Proxy warfare and the future of conflict. The RUSI Journal, 158(2), 40-46.
  • Nakhoul, S ; Al-Mughrabi, N ; Spetalnick, M ; Bassam, L (2023). In striking Israel, Hamas also took aim at Middle East security realignment.https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/striking-israel-hamas-also-took-aim-middle-east-security-realignment-2023-10-08/ (06.07.2024).
  • Negahban, B. (2017). Who Makes Iran’s Foreign Policy. https://www.yalejournal.org/publications/who-makes-irans-foreign-policy . (19.05.2024).
  • Ostovar, A. (2019). The Grand Strategy of Militant Clients: Iran’s Way of War. Security Studies, 28(1), 159–188. https://doi.org/10.1080/09636412.2018.1508862
  • Rondeaux, C ; Sterman, D (2019). Twenty-First Century Proxy Warfare: Confronting Strategic Innovation in a Multipolar World Since the 2011 NATO Intervention.https://d1y8sb8igg2f8e.cloudfront.net/documents/Twenty-First_Century_Proxy_Warfare_Final.pdf (06.07.2024).
  • Seliktar, O. (2021). Iran's Geopolitics and Revolutionary Export: The Promises and Limits of the Proxy Empire. Orbis, 65(1), 152-171.
  • Seliktar, O., & Rezaei, F. (2020). Iran, Revolution, and Proxy Wars. Cham: Springer International Publishing
  • Sharifi, K (2024). Iran's 'Axis Of Resistance': Different Groups, Same Goals.https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-s-axis-of-resistance-different-groups-same-goals/32826188.html (27.05.2024).
  • The Emirates Policy Centre (2024). Aftermath of the Jordan Attack: Dynamics of the Conflict Between US and Pro-Iran Iraqi Factions. https://epc.ae/en/details/featured/dynamics-of-the-conflict-between-the-us-and-pro-iran-iraqi-factions-after-the-jordan-attack (06.07.2024).
There are 22 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Middle East Studies
Journal Section Research Articles
Authors

Ihsan Hashm Taher 0009-0008-5065-640X

Publication Date July 16, 2024
Submission Date July 8, 2024
Acceptance Date July 11, 2024
Published in Issue Year 2024 Volume: 2 Issue: 1

Cite

APA Taher, I. H. (2024). IRANIAN FOREIGN POLICY DECISION-MAKING ACTORS: NAVIGATING THE COMPLEX ROLE OF IRANIAN PROXIES. Uluslararası İktisadi Ve İdari Çalışmalar Dergisi, 2(1), 65-74.
AMA Taher IH. IRANIAN FOREIGN POLICY DECISION-MAKING ACTORS: NAVIGATING THE COMPLEX ROLE OF IRANIAN PROXIES. Uluslararası İktisadi ve İdari Çalışmalar Dergisi. July 2024;2(1):65-74.
Chicago Taher, Ihsan Hashm. “IRANIAN FOREIGN POLICY DECISION-MAKING ACTORS: NAVIGATING THE COMPLEX ROLE OF IRANIAN PROXIES”. Uluslararası İktisadi Ve İdari Çalışmalar Dergisi 2, no. 1 (July 2024): 65-74.
EndNote Taher IH (July 1, 2024) IRANIAN FOREIGN POLICY DECISION-MAKING ACTORS: NAVIGATING THE COMPLEX ROLE OF IRANIAN PROXIES. Uluslararası İktisadi ve İdari Çalışmalar Dergisi 2 1 65–74.
IEEE I. H. Taher, “IRANIAN FOREIGN POLICY DECISION-MAKING ACTORS: NAVIGATING THE COMPLEX ROLE OF IRANIAN PROXIES”, Uluslararası İktisadi ve İdari Çalışmalar Dergisi, vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 65–74, 2024.
ISNAD Taher, Ihsan Hashm. “IRANIAN FOREIGN POLICY DECISION-MAKING ACTORS: NAVIGATING THE COMPLEX ROLE OF IRANIAN PROXIES”. Uluslararası İktisadi ve İdari Çalışmalar Dergisi 2/1 (July 2024), 65-74.
JAMA Taher IH. IRANIAN FOREIGN POLICY DECISION-MAKING ACTORS: NAVIGATING THE COMPLEX ROLE OF IRANIAN PROXIES. Uluslararası İktisadi ve İdari Çalışmalar Dergisi. 2024;2:65–74.
MLA Taher, Ihsan Hashm. “IRANIAN FOREIGN POLICY DECISION-MAKING ACTORS: NAVIGATING THE COMPLEX ROLE OF IRANIAN PROXIES”. Uluslararası İktisadi Ve İdari Çalışmalar Dergisi, vol. 2, no. 1, 2024, pp. 65-74.
Vancouver Taher IH. IRANIAN FOREIGN POLICY DECISION-MAKING ACTORS: NAVIGATING THE COMPLEX ROLE OF IRANIAN PROXIES. Uluslararası İktisadi ve İdari Çalışmalar Dergisi. 2024;2(1):65-74.