‍Central Asia and The Caucasus Journal

Abstract The hypothesis of this paper is that due to impotency of understanding the changing concept of ‘Geopolitics’ in Russian foreign policy and its shifting strategic choice, the doctrine of political realism and economic pragmatism are not capable of analyzing the Russian voting behavior in the SC, rather, the admixture of classic approaches with the doctrine of critical geopolitics will more clarify the Kremlin’s voting behaviors in the SC. Indeed, realistic and utilitarian approaches on one hand and the concept of politics as societal, cultural and discursive action on the other hand will answer the question. 

Abstract Over the last decade, Iran’s nuclear case has been an important issue for all great powers. However, the approach and position of Russia particularly in consideration of this issue in the Security Council, due to historical and technical atomic cooperation with Iran compared to other players in the case has been more important than anything else. The approach, position and the aims of Russia in the investigation of Iran’s nuclear case in the Security Council especially in the case of passing resolutions against Iran have had a remarkable impact on the outcome of the issue. Therefore, this paper based on the assumption that national interests have played a steering role in the formation of Russia’s positions and acts, seeks to recognize what factors have been influential in Russia’s positions in the period of passing are solution against Iran by Security Council. In response to this question, we hypothesize that Russia’s impressions of Iran’s nuclear program and its interaction and competition with Iran and America with the dual approach of controlling and balancing, due to exerting pressure on Iran’s nuclear developments and also to moderate west pressure on Iran have caused Russia to prevent America’s military action. In this paper, to investigate and evaluate different aspects of this hypothesis, qualitative methods such as data collection and inter view as well as investigation of documents and Security Council resolutions will be employed.