‍Central Asia and The Caucasus Journal

Abstract Using educational capabilities, especially in the higher educational domain to develop mutual understanding and make appositive image of a country is called educational diplomacy which is considered under cultural diplomacy. Nowadays, many countries employing university communication channel try to increase their soft power. Educational exchange and establishing university branches in different parts of the world, in particular, those which have common cultural domains, enable countries to increase their impacts through interacting with elites and university educated people. Academics as the most effective part in building the future of a country have a significant influence on cultural understanding and harmony between nations. In this regard, one of the important areas having a common cultural identity with the Islamic Republic of Iran is Central Asia region. This paper seeks to answer the question of how Iran could exploit its academic capabilities in Central Asia. The authors of the present paper believe that the Islamic Republic of Iran exploiting cultural capabilities, Persian language, common history of civilization, higher educational capabilities especially in academic exchange can make a positive image of it and promote its educational diplomacy in Central Asia Region

Abstract Russian Federation as a remained power of the disintegred  Soviet Union has been always trying to revive its position as a great power in the global political equations and pursues this approach with all power. This has caused Russian geopolitical approach to be remarkable in the case of different crises such as Syria. In fact, Russia with regard to its own strategic historical has set foot in the battlefield of Syria and has tried to consider its geopolitical interests in this extra-territorial geographical area. Hence, this paper employing geopolitical theory and descriptive-analytical method aims to explain Russia’s geopolitical approach to Syria’s crisis. Therefore, the main question addressed in this paper is that how the geopolitical approach of the Russian Federation in Syria’s crisis can be interpreted? In response, it will be explained that the Russian Federation's geopolitical approach in the context of the Syrian crisis can be analyzed and interpreted based on Russia’s long geopolitical conflict with the United States of America.

Abstract In recent years, the unprecedented development of China and Afghanistan relations and the entrance of China into the domain of Afghanistan political evolutions as a neutral actor indicates China’s endeavor to play an active role in Afghanistan issue after thirty years following the policy of “patient and expectation”. The exit of NATO from Afghanistan in 2014 provided an opportunity for China to adopt a new approach in consideration of geopolitical neighborhood. This view of China, contrary to the past, has transformed china from a supervisor country into a constructive mediator country in Afghanistan. The geopolitical neighborhood approach of China includes four political, strategic, geographical and economic significant traits, and Beijing hopes to remove its concern over political security and commercial economics through this approach in Afghanistan. China’s security concerns along with important changes in geopolitical and geo-economic conditions have obliged it to adopt a more active diplomacy in Afghanistan. This paper attempts to answer the question that what are the features and consequences of China's new diplomacy in Afghanistan? This study hypothesizes that constructive interaction with Afghanistan will develop strategic, economic, and security interests of China that are directly concerned with China’s national security risks and its economic opportunities. In fact, Afghanistan as a fragmented, chaotic and fundamentalist country is against the interests of China and a threat to maintaining stability in the autonomous region of Xinjiang.  

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.  

Abstract Separation of Crimea from Ukraine and its reunification with the territory of Russian Federation is the result of political and military competition and the geopolitics of West and Russian under the leadership of Putin. In this campaign, Russia aims to extend its influence over the neighborhood which had lost due to the collapse of the Soviet Union. Ukraine crisis changed the balance of power in favor of the West and strengthened the European Union and extended NATO borders. In fact, Russia is considered as the geopolitical loser of this crisis, since without Ukraine, Russia’s efforts to revive the empire will be devoid of geopolitical influence. The present paper aims to investigate the factors affecting the separation of Crimea from Ukraine and its reunification with Russia. In this case, the question that arises is that what factors induced Russia to invade Crimea and annexed it. In response, we hypothesize that the reason for there unification of Crimea with Russia is West threatening acts. However, Russia’s cultural and historical claims toward Crimea played a role in this issue. In this paper, we have attempted to investigate the extension of NATO and European Union to the traditional domain of Russia, viz. Ukraine, based on the analytical and descriptive method and using the balance of threat (BoT) theory of Stephen M. Walt.

Abstract Smart diplomacy is a concept which is used arguably by foreign diplomacy executives in order to utilize the opportunities and different capabilities of their countries, including material and spiritual resources, and hardware and software resources to achieve and extend national goals. Diplomatic cooperation between countries in the contemporary era is more diverse than that of previous years. One of the most important aspects of this diversityis the integration of traditional methods of multilateral diplomacy with the pattern of smart diplomacy in the various geopolitical fields. The geopolitics of the Caspian Sea due to its unique complexities is considered as one of the most important areas in the foreign policy of Islamic republic of Iran that calls for implementing the proper methodology of smart diplomacy. This paper explains the most important elements and concepts of smart diplomacy as well as the necessity of its implementation in Caspian Sea geopolitics. This study adopting a blending approach explains the current trends in the geopolitics of Caspian Sea, and regarding future-based methodology aims to answer the question of how the correct use of smart diplomacy by foreign policy diplomats will be effective in managing Caspian Sea issues. The proposed hypothesis is that smart diplomacy due to having accelerating components is the most practical element to establish interactive diplomatic methods for the diplomats in charge of the foreign policy of Caspian Sea.