‍Central Asia and The Caucasus Journal

Identification of the Pattern of Political and Social Interactions between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Azerbaijan in Foreign Policy: An Exploratory Mixed-Methods Approach

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Zahra bagheri 1
Zahra sadat moshir astekhareh 2

1 Political Sociology, Islamic Azad University, North Tehran Branch, Tehran, Iran.

2 Cultural Sociology, Islamic Azad University, North Tehran Branch, Tehran, Iran.

10.22034/ca.2026.733324
Abstract
The literature of international relations suggests that domestic political and social interactions play a significant role in shaping the foreign policies of states. Within this framework, the present study aims to design and explain a model of political and social interactions between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan and to explore how these interactions influence Iran’s foreign policy. The main research question is: how do Iran’s internal dynamics impact its foreign policy towards Azerbaijan? To answer this question, a sequential exploratory mixed-methods approach was adopted. In the qualitative phase, grounded theory and in-depth interviews were used to identify the main components of the interaction model. Subsequently, a quantitative phase using structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) tested the relationships among variables. The findings indicate that elements such as national interests, social participation, diplomatic inefficiencies, media control, and balance-oriented strategies play a vital role in shaping Iran’s foreign policy. The quantitative results confirmed the validity and reliability of the model and emphasized the importance of internal factors in foreign policy formulation.

Keywords

Political Interactions
Social Interactions
International Relations
Foreign Policy
Mixed-Methods Research
Subjects
‍Central Asia and The Caucasus Journal

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 05 January 2026

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