درخت حوزه‌های تخصصی

This dissertation investigates the impact of the US-China trade war on regional and international cooperation patterns, with a specific focus on Iran-China relations. The ongoing rivalry between the United States and China, the world's two largest economies, extends beyond trade and into geopolitical and diplomatic realms, reshaping alliances and economic strategies across the globe. Among the countries influenced by this global shift, Iran presents a compelling case study due to its ongoing economic isolation from the West, largely driven by US sanctions. This research seeks to explore how the US-China trade war has created opportunities for Iran and China to deepen their bilateral ties and develop alternative cooperation models at both regional and international levels. The importance of this study lies in its ability to shed light on how economic conflicts between superpowers can inadvertently generate strategic opportunities for other states. By analysing the political and economic dynamics between Iran and China in the aftermath of the trade war, this research contributes to a broader understanding of shifting global power structures. The study is guided by the central research question: How has the US-China trade war created opportunities for Iran and China to strengthen regional and international relations and establish new cooperation models? Employing the Hegemonic Stability Theory, it argues that the potential decline in US dominance will catalyse the emergence of new geopolitical alignments, especially in regions where American influence has weakened. The findings reveal that the trade war has indeed acted as a catalyst for strengthened Iran-China relations. Both nations have strategically capitalised on reduced Western engagement to pursue mutual interests, enhance economic cooperation, and position themselves as key actors in a multipolar world. The study concludes that this evolving partnership exemplifies how geopolitical tensions can lead to new patterns of global cooperation, challenging established power hierarchies.  

This research seeks to address whether the European Union (EU) has successfully maintained its strategic autonomy in managing key global issues and crises, a critical element in its decision-making process and a fundamental aspect of the institution itself. The study's conceptual framework centers on the notion of the EU's strategic autonomy, which is analyzed through three case studies: Iran's nuclear issue, the war in Ukraine, and the Gaza crisis. The hypothesis posits that the EU's responses to Iran's nuclear program and the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza reveal a deficiency in its strategic autonomy. Iran's nuclear issue, after two decades of extensive negotiations and agreements that ultimately failed, represents a key instance where the EU's inability to assert strategic autonomy is most evident. Moreover, the EU's handling of the Ukraine and Gaza conflicts, marked by inconsistencies in its application of soft power and moral-value-based leadership, has further cast doubt on the Union's strategic autonomy. The research findings, derived from these case studies, suggest that without political coherence and a unified diplomatic and political strategy—critical elements of strategic autonomy—the EU will continue to be perceived as a dependent and subordinate actor. This condition is commonly referred to in the academic literature as a "strategic autonomy deficit" or a "political and military sovereignty deficit." The methodology of this research is descriptive and analytical, utilizing data collected from a range of sources, including books, peer-reviewed journal articles, online databases, and authoritative expert opinions.

Despite common interests, historical ties, and mutual needs in areas such as military and economic cooperation, Iran–China relations have not evolved into a decisive level of strategic partnership. Accordingly, the authors of the present article seek to explore this issue through the lens of strategic culture. By examining the key components of the strategic cultures of Both Countries, as well as the internal obstacles and challenges arising from them, this study aims to answer the question: How has the strategic culture of Iran and China, at the domestic level, influenced the development of their strategic partnership? It appears that the absence of a shared perspective among the political elites of Iran and China on various issues has hindered the formation of a decisive strategic partnership between the two countries. The research findings indicate that the role of security considerations and domestic issues—such as differing strategic cultures reflected in policymakers’ perceptions of elements like power, legitimacy, welfare, development, and security—along with internal constraints in both countries, have played a fundamental role in creating obstacles within Iran-China strategic relations. This study employs a qualitative-interpretive methodology with an explanatory approach.

Neighborhood policy can be explained by various strategies throughout different eras and actors, important states like China, the European Union (commonly referred to as "neighborhood policy"), Turkey with its "zero tension with neighbors" approach, India under the "Neighborhood First" policy, and Iran, which has developed its own "Neighborhood Policy." Essentially, neighborhood policy is defined as a strategy that prioritizes relationships with neighboring countries within a nation’s foreign policy framework. This article seeks to address a key question: Is Iran's implementation of its neighborhood policy a strategic choice or a short-term necessity stemming from specific challenges, such as sanctions? The hypothesis of this research posits that Iran's adoption of this policy is primarily a functional necessity in response to pressing foreign policy issues. However, it also suggests that this policy could evolve into a long-term strategic framework if it expands into other areas.