Russia and NATO: From Strategic Partnership to Strategic Competition
Shahrooz
Ebrahimi
استادیار روابط بین الملل، دانشگاه اصفهان
author
Niknam
Babri
دانشجوی دکترای روابط بین الملل، دانشگاه اصفهان
author
text
article
2017
per
The Collapse of the bipolar international system in 1991, made NATO’s philosophy of existence face some serious challenges. Providing some new interpretation of its role such as global energy security provision, overcoming terrorist activities threats, supporting human rights and democracy as well as combating cyber attacks, NATO managed to survive in post cold war era. Russia has been in opposition to NATO’s expansion in its influence area and considers NATO’s measures in this region as a menace to its national security. Against this background, Russia is known as a potential superpower that can resist against NATO’s military and security policies in many western studies. In this regard, Russia and NATO’s relation during the post cold war era has experienced a wide evolving spectrum from partnership to competition.
The present literature scrutinizes the partnership and competition trends in Russia and NATO’s relation during Putin’s governance. The following question is addressed in this article: What trend has been developed by partnership and competition between Russia and NATO? In order to find an answer for the mentioned question, the following hypothesis is being examined that with Putin’s rise to power and his attempt for revivng Russia’s lost position in international system, the competition elements between Russia and NATO were raised upward; so that their relation has reached to its lowest degree today since the collapse of the USSR. The present article is written using explanatory – analyzing research method in a constructivist theoretical framework.
Central Asia and The Caucasus Journal
The Ministry of foreign Affairs of Islamic Republic of Iran
2322-3766
22
v.
96
no.
2017
1
24
http://ca.ipisjournals.ir/article_24383_f75e7f335eac65d52fa8b337023d9f29.pdf
Economic Diplomacy of the Islamic Republic of Iran; Assessing 25 - year economic relations between Iran and Central Asian Republics
Seyed Jalal
Dehghani Firoozabadi
استاد دانشگاه علامه طباطبائی
author
Morteza
Damanpak Jami
دانشجوی دکترای روابط بین الملل، دانشگاه علامه طباطبائی
author
text
article
2017
per
Due to its cultural and civilizational relations and geopolitical importance in the foreign policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Central Asia has always been under attention of Iran’s economic diplomacy goals, since the collapse of the Soviet Union. During the 25 year independency of Central Asian countries, the dominant dimension of Iran’s foreign policy behavior toward this region has been influenced by geopolitical discourse and therefore has been pragmatist and interest oriented. The eleventh administration of the Islamic Republic of Iran, in the framework of moderation discourse and its economic oriented foreign policy, has paid especial attention to expanding its economic relations with Central Asian Republics. The present article attempts to find out the achievements of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s economic diplomacy in Central Asia and also the reason of prioritization of economic diplomacy in the eleventh administration. The following hypothesis guides this study: Although during last two decades, pragmatist politics, derived from Iran’s geopolitical discourse in Central Asia, has lead to the expansion of economic relations in the region, the cooperative and development oriented nature of the moderation discourse as well as the necessities of Iran’s twenty – year vision plan and its resilient economy has prioritized the economic diplomacy in Iran’s foreign policy towards Central Asia. While scrutinizing Iran’s economic diplomacy in Central Asia, the authors attempt to assess the significance of economic diplomacy in the eleventh administration. Using explanatory – analyzing research method, the authors try to tell why the research findings provide an answer to the research question.
Central Asia and The Caucasus Journal
The Ministry of foreign Affairs of Islamic Republic of Iran
2322-3766
22
v.
96
no.
2017
25
66
http://ca.ipisjournals.ir/article_24384_d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e.pdf
A study on the effective factors of integration and conflicts between
Russia and China in post cold war era
Reza
Simbar
استاد دانشگاه گیلان
author
Seyed Mostafa
Hosseini
دانش آموخته کارشناسی ارشد رشته جغرافیا دانشگاه زنجان
author
text
article
2017
per
After the cold war and collapse of the Soviet Union, the international order faced drastic changes and the United States managed to establish its desired unipolar structure and hegemonic order due to its superiority in ideological, economic, political and military arenas. Notwithstanding, China’s economic growth and Russia’s reviving influence in regional and international evolutions, have lead to a change in international order and development of a unipolar-multipolar system that may increase either integration or conflicts between the actors.
The following research question guides this study: What are the most influential factors for integration and conflict between Russia and China in post cold war era? The article’s hypotheses is that A) The following factors would lead to an integration between Russia and China: economic, political and security cooperation in the framework of BRICS and SCO, a cyber war with the United States, the worry of US and NATO’s presence in their borders’ periphery, common interests in Central Asia, common threats in regional crises (such as Syria and North Korea), and the worry of the extremism expansion into their territories. B) Issues such as lack of confidence in mutual relations, increase of Chinese population in Russia, competition for energy resources in Central Asia, inability in building a defensive alliance between the two countries, would lead to a conflict between Russia and China. Using explanatory – analyzing research method, the authors try to tell why the research findings provide an answer to the research question.
Central Asia and The Caucasus Journal
The Ministry of foreign Affairs of Islamic Republic of Iran
2322-3766
22
v.
96
no.
2017
67
99
http://ca.ipisjournals.ir/article_24385_77757c6847c36841cc19e10c0e246eff.pdf
Rational Choice and the Russia’s preferences in Central Asia
Seyed Mahdi
Moradi
استادیار دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی واحد رشت
author
Mostafa
Kheiri
دانشجوی دکتری روابط بین الملل، دانشگاه اصفهان
author
text
article
2017
per
Russia’s position in international equations is one of the influential elements in global issues. Kremlin’s foreign policy approach towards it’s near abroad and their method of reply is not only determining the security, economic and political environment in the region, but is also effective on international relations and the balance of power. Kremlin considers the international order as multipolar and therefore attempts to make Russia one of the poles in international system, so that Russia could make a strategic balance against the United States.
The authors attempt to find an answer to the question that which preference in Russia’s foreign policy is upon its geopolitical connection to Central Asia? The following hypothesis guides this study: Energy oriented geopolitical connection is no longer causing a special asset in Russia’s foreign policy, due to strengthening Russia and China’s competition, uneven policies of Central Asian countries and the prioritizing of bilateral approach instead of regionalism. Therefore Russia is gradually missing its economic and energy position, although still maintaining its security and political situation in the region. Using explanatory – analyzing research method and the rational choice theory by Green and Shapiro, the authors try to tell why the research findings provide an answer to the research question.
Central Asia and The Caucasus Journal
The Ministry of foreign Affairs of Islamic Republic of Iran
2322-3766
22
v.
96
no.
2017
100
126
http://ca.ipisjournals.ir/article_24386_c866caf1b05321f394d5b64d4669b153.pdf
Near Abroad in Security Discourse of Russia’s Neo-Eurasianism
Mahdi
Hedayati Shahidani
استادیار دانشگاه گیلان
author
Danyal
Rezapoor
دکترای روابط بین الملل دانشگاه گیلان
author
text
article
2017
per
Security vision of Russia’s Neo – Eurasianists towards its near abroad has been suspicious about West and has fully attempted to combat and reduce western influence in regional security structure, especially since Putin’s retaking office (and also in latest period of Medvedev office). Against this background, the core of the mentioned discourse has been upon building institutions and structures that were to attract regional cooperation for competing western security structures, especially NATO in Russia’s near abroad. Using regional security complex theory, the present literature attempts to explain Russian behavior in its near abroad. Considering the importance and the position of the mentioned theory in explanation of security evolutions after the cold war, the present article tries to answer the following question: What security relation is chosen as desired for Russia towards it’s near abroad? The hypothesis is that Russia attempts to pioneer a regional security complex in its near abroad so that it would attract regional countries to its desired economic, security provisions and institutions and therefore to prevent the influence of trans-regional actors and organizations. Using explanatory – analyzing research method and library resources the authors try to tell why the research findings provide an answer to the research question.
Central Asia and The Caucasus Journal
The Ministry of foreign Affairs of Islamic Republic of Iran
2322-3766
22
v.
96
no.
2017
127
162
http://ca.ipisjournals.ir/article_24387_cb3404edbac1b2d468e475b5174fecd5.pdf
Belt – Road Initiative: Fortifier of Heartland Theory
Enayatollah
Yazdani
دانشیار دانشگاه اصفهان
author
Ali
Omidi
دانشیار دانشگاه اصفهان
author
Parisa
ShahMohammadi
دانشجوی دکترای روابط بین الملل، دانشگاه اصفهان
author
text
article
2017
per
Eurasia which is called as the heart of world politics in Heartland Theory is facing such wide and diverse developments in the light of Belt – Road Initiative that would add to its significance. The Heartland Theory which is also called as Mackinderian Philosophy placed the pivot in the center of the planet, which includes the river basins of the Volga, Yenisey, Amu Draya, Syr Draya, and two seas the Caspian and the Aral. This theory put emphasis on the centrality of the Eurasian region. Mackinder stated that in the context of the global geopolitical processes, the Eurasian continent is found in the center of the world politics. Mackinder believes that Heartland would remain as the geographical pivot of history for all the times, but some rival theories and criticisms had been challenging its accuracy and durability. In order to answer the question that how the Belt – Road Initiative could re -highlight Eurasia as Heartland, explores the following hypothesis: Belt – Road Initiative fortifies the potential nature of Heartland Theory. Using explanatory – analyzing research method, the authors try to tell why the research findings provide an answer to the research question.
Central Asia and The Caucasus Journal
The Ministry of foreign Affairs of Islamic Republic of Iran
2322-3766
22
v.
96
no.
2017
163
188
http://ca.ipisjournals.ir/article_24388_166b1309f34c8c9e5b78a5bf6e0d4d61.pdf