Iranian Scholars and Theorizing International Relations: Achievements and Challenges1

Since the emergence of the Islamic Republic in Iran, social scientists, including international relations (IR) scholars, have been called to develop endogenous/indigenous theories to reflect Iranian/Islamic points of view. This theorizing has led some Iranian scholars to develop ideas about international life on the basis of Islamic texts and teachings. Furthermore, due to an increasing awareness of the Eurocentric nature of IR theories over the last few years, the international community of IR scholars has become open to non-Western IR theories. This opening has made homegrown theorizing more attractive to Iranian IR scholars, and debates about it have become more vivid. This article seeks to examine the attempts by the Iranian IR community to conceptualize and theorize IR from Iranian/Islamic points of view and to show how contextual factors have limited such attempts. The first part of the article reviews the IR scholarship in Iran to give a portrait of Iranians’ achievements in this regard. The second part examines contextual factors that may have affected homegrown theorizing in Iran, including international agency, sources of inspiration, the dynamism of the IR community, the relationship between academia and government, and intellectual autonomy. An evaluation of this structural context suggests that even if theorizing IR from an Iranian point of view is both possible and preferable, this cannot be done unless certain structural constraints are overcome

PDF

___

Acharya, Amitav. “Norm Subsidiarity and Regional Orders: Sovereignty, Regionalism, and Rule-Making in the Third World.” International Studies Quarterly 55, no. 1: 95-123 (2011).
Acharya, Amitav, and Barry Buzan, eds. Non-Western International Relations Theory: Perspectives on and Beyond Asia. London and New York: Routledge, 2010.
Ajili, Hadi, and Ali Esmaeeli. “An Introduction to the Concept of Peace in International Relations.” Research in Islamic Politics 1, no. 4 (1392 [2013]): 5-134.
Akhavan Kazemi, Bahram. “Security in The Thought of Farabi and Mohaghegh Toosi.” Islamic Government 52 (1388 [2009]): 89-110.
Alikhani, A. A. “Fundamentals and Principles of International Relations in Islam.” Research in International Relations 12 (1390 [2011]): 11-38.
Ashworth, Lucian. “Interdisciplinary and International Relations.” European Political Science Review 8, no. 1 (2009): 8-25.
Atai, Farhad, and Majid Behestani. “Identity and Otherness in the Formation of Iran from the Shahnameh Perspective.” Iranian Journal of Foreign Affairs 2, no. 4 (1389 [2010]): 79-109.
Azghandi, Alireza. Political Science in Iran. Tehran: Baz, 1378 [1999].
Balaghi, S. S. “International Relations in Islam.” Lessons from Islam 12, no. 5 (1350 [1971]): 33-4.
Barzanooni, M. A. “Islam: The Primacy of War or Peace?” International Legal Journal 33 (1384 [2005]): 73-158.
Behzadi, H. Nationalism: A Theoretical and Practical Analysis. Tehran: Hesab, 1354 [1975].
Behestani, Majid. “Religious Attitude and Foreign Policy: Operational Codes of Bazargan and Ahmadinezhad.” Iranian Journal of Foreign Affairs 5, no. 3 (1392 [2013]): 211-47.
Chillaud, Matthieu. “Peace and Security Re-conceptualizations in the Agenda of PRIO, SIPRI, TAPRI and COPRI since the End of the Cold War.” Presented at the ECPR Conference in Charles University, Prague, December 7-10, 2016.
Dehghani-Firoozabadi, S. J. Islamic Meta Theory of International Relations. Tehran: Allameh Tabatabai University Publication, 1394 [2015].
———. “Islamic Theory of International Relations: What and How It Is.” Research Letter of Political Science 5, no. 2 (1389b [2010]): 111-42.
———. “Meta-Theoretical Foundations of Islamic Theory of International Relations.” Foreign Relations 2, no. 6 (1389a [2010]): 49-96.
———. “The Model of World Order in Islamic Theory of International Relations.” International Relations Research 1, no. 3 (1389c [2010]): 9-47.
Dehghani-Firoozabadi, S. J., and M. Ghanbari. “Developments in Theoretical Studies of International Relations in Iran.” Research on Islamic Politics 1, no. 4 (1392 [2013]): 9-38.
Delavari, Abolfazl. “An Evaluation of PhD Curriculum of Political Science and IR in Iran.” Research in Politics 12 (1389 [2010]): 67-110.
Eftekhari, Asqar. “Structural Signs of ‘Islamic Security’.” Strategic Studies 26 (1383 [2004]): 641-668.
Eftekhari, Asqar, and H. Mohammadi-Sirat. “Peace (sulh and salm) in Quran.” Quran and Hadith Studies 12 (1392 [2013]): 53-78.
Eftekhari, Qasem. “Methodological Evaluation of PhD Dissertations in Political Science and IR at the University of Tehran.” In Teaching and Research in Political Science and International Relations in Iran, edited by H. Salimi. Tehran: Ministry of Science, Research and Technology, 1387 [2008]: 269-94.
Gharayagh-Zandi, D. Hamid Enayat: The Father of Political Science in Iran. Tehran: Bogh’e, 1381 [2002].
Ghasemi, Farhad. “Cycle Theories and the Security of the Islamic Republic of Iran.” Political and International Approaches 17 (1388 [2009]): 69-100.
———. “Conceptual Reconstruction of Regional Deterrence Theory and Designing Its Patterns on the Basis of the Theories of Power Cycles and Networks.” Defensive Strategy 38 (1391b [2012]): 103-46.
———. “Theoretical Foundations of Smart Balance of Power in Regional Networks: Towards a New Theory of Regional Balance of Power.” Geopolitics 8, no. 1 (1391 [2012]): 172-213.
Ghavam, S. A., and S. A. Fateminezhad. “War and Anarchy: A Critique of Anarchy-Hierarchy on the Basis of Shahnameh.” Research Letter of Political Science 4, no. 2 (1388 [2009]): 159-94.
Hadian, N. “Political Science in Iran.” Political Science Quarterly 2, no. 7 (1378 [1999]): 222-46.
Haji-yousefi, A.M. “Teaching the Basics of IR in Iran: Problems and Solutions.” Research Letter of Political Science 5, no. 2 (1385 [2006]): 79-94.
———. “Teaching IR in Iran: Challenges and Perspectives.” Research Letter of Political Science 5, no. 2 (1389 [2010]): 67-110.
Haji-yousefi, Amir M. “Is there an Iranian Perspective on International Relations?” Presented at the Annual Conference of the Canadian Political Science Association, Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada, May 27-29, 2009. Accessed December 2, 2013. http://www.cpsa-acsp.ca/papers-2009/Haji-Yousefi.pdf.
Hatami, M. R. “Terrorism from an Islamic Perspective.” Political and International Research 6 (1390 [2011]): 25-47.
Heshmatzadeh, M. B. “The Status of Political Science in Iran.” Journal of Political Science 18 (1381 [2002]): 305- 28.
Hoffman, Stanley. “An American Social Science: International Relations.” Daedalus 106, no. 3 (1977): 41-60.
Hosseini, S. E. “International Terrorism in Islamic Perspective.” Knowledge 125 (1387 [2008]): 15-32.
Javadi Amoli, A. “Principles of International Relations of Islamic State.” Islamic Government 13, no. 2 (1387 [2008]): 5-36.
Jentleson, Bruce, and Ely Ratner. “Bridging the Beltway–Ivory Tower Gap.” International Studies Review 13 (2015): 6-11.
Jorgensen, Knud E. “Would 100 Global Workshops on Theory Building Make a Difference?” Paper Presented at 2nd All Azimuth Workshop, Widening the World of IR Theorizing, Ankara, Turkey, September 23-24, 2016.
Kaplan, R. B. “Cultural Thought Patterns in Intercultural Education.” Language Learning 16 (1966): 11-25.
Kristensen, Peter. “Dividing Discipline: Structures of Communication.” International Studies Review 14, no. 1 (2012): 32-50.
Lepgold, Joseph, and Miroslav Nincic. Beyond the Ivory Tower: International Relations Theory and the Issue of Policy Relevance. New York: Columbia University Press, 2001.
Mahallati, M. J. “Ethics of War in Persian Literary and Epic Texts.” Research on Culture and Literature, (n.d.).
Mallavarapu, Siddharth. “Development of International Relations Theory in India: Traditions, Contemporary Perspectives and Trajectories,” International Studies 46, no. 1&2: 165-83.
Masoodnia, H. and D. Najafi. “Pillars of Iran’s Regional Policy on the Basis of Tehran Friday Prayers.” Political and International Research 6 (1390 [2011]): 77-102.
Mirahamadi, Mansour, and Hadi Ajili. “An Introduction to the Concept of Power in International Relations.” Political and International Approaches 19 (1388 [2009]): 119-45.
Mirkooshesh, A. H., and S. Noorisafa. “Ontology of International Peace in the Iranian Context of Tolerance and Peace.” Strategy [Rahbord] 68 (1392 [2013]): 7-32.
Molaee, Ebadollah. “Relationship between Theory and Practice in IR.” Foreign Policy 16, no. 4 (1381 [2002]): 951-78.
Morgenthau, Hans. Truth and Power: Essays of Decade, 1960-1970. New York: Praeger, 1970.
Mosaffa, Nasrin. Changes in Teaching and Research in Political Science and International Relations. Tehran: Center for Cultural and Social Studies, 1386 [2007].
Moshirzadeh, Homeira. “Critical International Theory and Dialogue of Civilizations.” In Civilizational Dialogue and Political Thought, edited by Fred Dalmayr and Abbas Manoochehri, 101-18. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books, 2007.
———. “Dialogue of Civilizations from a Constructivist Point of View.” Journal of the Faculty of Law Political Science 63 (1383 [2004]): 169-201.
———. “Dialogue of Civilizations and International Theory.” The Iranian Journal of International Affairs 16, no. 1 (2004): 1-44.
———. “A Hegemonic ‘Discipline’ in an ‘Anti-Hegemonic’ Country.” International Political Sociology 3, no. 3 (2009): 342-46.
———. “Recent Theoretical Developments in IR: Implications for Endogenous Theorizing.” Research Letter of Political Science 6, no. 2 (1390 [2011]): 165-204.
Moshirzadeh, Homeira, and Majid Kafi. “Theorizing IR in Iran: A Structural Explanation.” Politics 45, no. 2 (1394 [2015]): 337-55.
Moshirzadeh, Homeira, and Heidarali Masoudi. “IR Theory and Research in Iran: A Study of IR Dissertations.” Research Letter of Political Science 5, no. 2 (1389 [2010]): 163-88.
———. “Theoretical Knowledge of Iranian Students of IR: A Pathological Study.” Politics 41, no. 3 (1390 [2011]): 265-84.
Naghibzadeh, Ahmad. “International Relations as an Interdisciplinary Subject: Sociology and IR.” International Studies 5, no. 3 (1387 [2008]): 111-26.
Nazem, H. Politics and International Organizations. Tehran: Etella’at Newspaper Publication, 2536 [1977].
Poshtdar A. M., and F. Shekardast. “Psychological Operations (Soft Power) in Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh.” Fiction Studies 1, no. 4 (1392 [2013]): 23-34.
Pourfard, M. “Political Science in Iran: From Re-Knowing to Re-Constructing.” Political Science 28 (1383 [2004]): 135-52.
Ranjbar, M. “The Crisis of Political Science in Iran.” Journal of Political Science 24, no. 4 (1382 [2003]): 95-112.
Said, Edward. The World, the Text, and the Critic. US: Edward Said, 1983.
Salimi, Hossein. “Islamic Realism and Understanding Modern International Relations.” Research in Theoretical Politics 12 (1391 [2012]): 49-76.
———. “Non-Conflict: The Foundation of Islamic View of International Relations.” Foreign Relations 3, no. 3 (1390 [2011]): 75-112.
———. “Theoretical Foundations of Inter-Civilizational Dialogue.” Discourse Quarterly 3 (1377 [1999]): 131-48.
Sariolghalam, Mahmood. “Iran: Accomplishments and Limitations in IR.” In International Relations Scholarship around the World, edited by A. Tickner and Ole Wæver, 158-71. London: Routledge, 2009.
Seifoori, B., and A. Tofighianfar. “A Sociological View of Causes and Conduct of War in Shahnameh.” Iranian Studies 12, no. 24 (1392 [2013]): 217-38.
Seifzadeh, S. H. “Conceptual Systematic Schema for Foreign Policy.” The Journal of the Faculty of Law and Political Science of the University of Tehran 26 (1370 [1991]): 153-96.
Seyedian, S. M. “Components of Islamic Globalization.” Knowledge 20, no. 10 (1390 [2011]): 13-28.
Seyyedemami, Kavoos. “What Is Missed in Political Science in Iran: Empirical Research.” Research Letter of Political Science 5, no. 2 (1389 [2010]): 143-62.
Smith, Steve. “The Discipline of International Relations: Still an American Social Science?” British Journal of Politics and International Relations 2, no. 3 (2000): 374-402.
———. “The Discipline of International Relations: “Hegemonic Country, Hegemonic Discipline.” International Studies Review 4, no. 2 (2003): 67-85.
Soltani, E. “Foreign Relations of Islamic State in Quran: War or Peace?” Knowledge 143 (1388 [2009]): 69-94.
Sotoodeh, Mohammad. “IR in Iran: An Evaluation.” Political Science Quarterly 8, no. 2 (1384 [2005]): 93-116.
Taghavi, M. A., and M. Adibi. “The Weakness of Critique in Political Science in Iran.” Research Letter of Political Science 5, no. 2 (1389 [2010]): 7-28.
Tickner, Arlene, and Ole Wæver. International Relations Scholarship around the World. London: Routledge, 2008.
Turton, Helen Louise. International Relations and American Dominance: A Diverse Discipline. Abingdon and New York: Routledge, 2015.
Vasilaki, Rosa. “Provincialising IR? Deadlocks and Prospects in Post-Western IR Theory.” Millennium: Journal of International Studies 41, no. 1 (2012): 3-22.
Wæver, Ole. “The Sociology of a Not So International Discipline: American and European Developments in IR.” International Organization 52, no. 4 (1998): 687-727.
Walt, Stephen. “The Relationship between Theory and Policy in International Relations.” Annual Review of Political Science 8 (2005): 23-48.
Wang, Yiwei. “Between Science and Art: Questionable International Relations Theories.” Japanese Journal of Political Science 8, 2 (2007): 191-208.
Yaqing, Qin. “Development of International Relations Theory in China.” International Studies 46, no. 1&2 (2009): 185-201.

All Azimuth: A Journal of Foreign Policy and Peace-Cover

ISSN: 2146-7757
Yayın Aralığı: Yılda 2 Sayı
Başlangıç: 2012
Yayıncı: Dış Politika ve Barış Araştırmaları Merkezi, İhsan Doğramacı Barış Vakfı

Arşiv