IDEOLOGY AND POWER POLITICS IN IRAN’S FOREIGN POLICY TOWARDS MIDDLE EAST: A CASE STUDY OF SYRIAN CIVIL WAR

Abstract

Islamic Republic of Iran embodies uniqueness in the diverse geo-strategic chessboard of Middle East due to its mystified character in regional conflicts driven by both its neighborhood and internal socio-political make-up. Islamic Republic has portrayed itself as a puzzle for scholars who venture to classify and envisage it‘s foreign and security policy choices into power politics, ideology or both. The study attempts to resolve the conundrum between Iran‘s romanticism with its ideology and its rational choices in post 2003-era and Syrian Civil War by hypothesizing power politics over ideology. Taking insights from the Neo-classical realist objective and subjective assumptions, the study endeavored to dig out the ―truth‖ about Tehran‘s rendezvous engagements with power politics and revolutionary ideals. The study contends, Tehran‘s choices are neither reflexive nor robotic responses to the international power structure nor they are adherence to apocalyptic paragons regime employs in foreign and domestic landscape. Instead they are subjective cum institutional responses to the objective realties of the anarchy. The decision making process to evaluate the systemic stimuli relies on the centrality of strong religio-political leader whose leadership style allows to develop a unique decision making culture in which different actors compete with their narratives and nterpretations of systemic stimuli and what Iran‘s national interest. The instrumentalisation of abstract and metaphysical identity in Iran‘s responses to structural constraints serves both at home and abroad. It helps the different power centers at home by strengthening their positions and regime both. But such an attempt doesn‘t specifically lead Iran to suboptimal choices being defensive power it has successfully maximized its security. So the study answers xvi the primary question, ―what drives Iran foreign policy choices? Its revolutionary ideology or contours of power politics.‖