الثابت و المتغير في السياسة الخارجية الإيرانية و في الخطاب السياسي حول الملف النووي (2005-2015)‎

Other Title(s)

Continuity and change in Iran's foreign policy and its political discourse on the nuclear dossier (2005-2015)‎

Dissertant

كشك، كارمن وائل

Thesis advisor

المالكي، مجدي

University

Birzeit University

Faculty

Faculty of Graduate Studies

Department

International Studies

University Country

Palestine (West Bank)

Degree

Master

Degree Date

2018

English Abstract

Since the nuclear deal is a recent development in long-lasting tense relations between Iran and the United States, there is a gap in the level of research that discusses the reasons that led up to the deal.

Therefore, this thesis analyzes the continuity and change in Iran's foreign policy orientations in the nuclear file, explaining how the change was reflected in the political discourse, and the role of persuasive rhetoric and language in the Iran-US relationship, which all led to signing the deal.

This research aims to answer the question on what are the determinants of Iran's foreign policy in the nuclear file between (2005- 2015) towards the United States, through defining the unique elements of Iran's national identity, and how it affects its foreign policy behaviors, in response to the changes of the domestic and international contexts, in addition to the role of rhetoric and language in reflecting the change in political behaviors, building trust and their role in signing/not signing the nuclear deal.

Through applying the theory of constructivism and discourse analysis, the thesis reviews the resources and previous literature that studies how Iran's identity was constructed.

It also identifies the relevant domestic and systematic dynamics that affects Iran's foreign policy making towards the US in the nuclear file, which are all reflected in the language of its political discourse and contributes in reducing/ accelerating the tensions between Iran and U.S.

The study is comprised of four chapters in addition to the conclusion.

Chapter I deals with the conceptual framework, methodology and literature review adopted in the analysis.

Chapter II analyzes the formation of Iran's identity throughout history, focusing on the identity and its effects on Iran's political system after the Islamic revolution in 1979.

Chapter III tackles the domestic and global changes that affected the behaviors of foreign policy makers and their stance from negotiating with the West and the US regarding the nuclear file.

Through analyzing Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Hassan Rouhani's political speeches, Chapter IV explores how these discourses give meanings to Iran's foreign policy behavior between (2005-2015), and analyzes how Iran talk about the U.S in public forums which can affect how the their relationship can be constructed/ re-constructed.

The study concludes that Iran's identity can determine the country's foreign policy decisions especially in the nuclear file, through defining its strategic redlines which are: maintaining Iran's rights in developing its scientific and technology capabilities, and continuation of constructing the nuclear installations for peaceful purposes.

Therefore, the state's institutions, factions and individuals seek to maintain these redlines through redefining its tools for accomplishing the goal of its foreign policy.

Iran's foreign policy orientations, and as a result its rhetoric, is occasionally strengthened or moderated due to the local and global dynamics.

The political discourse reflected Iran's different intentions and goals, and was able to help persuade the U.S and the West to change their behavior towards Iran.

Main Subjects

Political Sciences

Topics

• Nuclear weapons
• Foreign policy
• Political speech
• Iran
• Twenty-first century
• Nuclear programmes

No. of Pages

178

Table of Contents

• APA
• MLA
• AMA

Language

Arabic

Data Type

Arab Theses

Record ID

BIM-837390