Analyzing the Role of Iran's Economic Diplomacy in Energy Geopolitics, with an Emphasis on Renewable Energies

Subject Areas : Political Geography

Gholamreza Shafiee ¹ , Hojat Mahkouei ^{2 *} , Amir Gandomkar ³ , Reza Simbar ⁴

1 - PhD Student in Political Geography, Department of Geography, Najafabad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Najafabad, Iran.
2 - Assistant Professor of Political Geography, Department of Geography, Najafabad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Najafabad, Iran.
3 - Associate Professor, Department of Geography, Najafabad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Najafabad, Iran.
4 - Professor, Department of Political Science and International Relations, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran.

Received: 2024-08-27 Accepted : 2024-12-23 Published : 2025-05-05

Keywords: Economic diplomacy, geopolitics of energy, geoenergics, renewable energy, energy transition.,

Abstract :

In the current era, human society is increasingly witnessing the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. An issue that has led to a paradigm shift in energy systems around the world towards clean energy and investment in electricity generation systems based on renewable energy. Therefore, the transition process from fossil fuels to clean and renewable energy sources will be one of the most important political and economic challenges of the country until the end of the first half of the 21st century. An issue that requires the adoption of a geoeconomics approach and the use of an active and intelligent economic diplomacy in order to overcome this challenge. The main problem of the research is, how is the importance and necessity of changing Iran's economic diplomacy in order to take advantage of the country's geoeconomics position with a geoenergics focus, until the end of the first half of the 21st century? Based on this, the hypothesis of the research is: "It is important and necessary to change Iran's economic diplomacy to geoenergics-based diplomacy until the end of the first half of the 21st century". In this regard, 34 questionnaires were completed by professors and experts related to the subject, and the results were analyzed using SPSS software, T-test and multivariate regression. The results and inferential findings of the research, considering the unique position and capacities of oil and gas and the potentials related to renewable energies of Iran on the one hand, and the transition process from fossil fuels to clean and renewable energy sources on the other hand, indicate the fact that, Changing Iran's economic diplomacy in order to take advantage of the country's geoenergics situation and capacities, especially renewable energies, is no longer a choice but a necessity.

References:

حافظ نیا، محمدرضا (1385). اصول و مفاهیم ژئوپولیتیک. مشهد: انتشارات پاپلی.
سازمان انرژی‌های تجدیدپذیر و بهره‌وری انرژی برق (ساتبا) (1398). گزارش آماری انرژیهای تجدیدپذیر ایران در سال 1397. دفتر روابط عمومی و امور بین‌الملل. گروه توسعه همکاری‌های بین‌المللی. تهران.
صادقی، اکبر؛ دهقانی فیروزآبادی، سید جلال؛ آجیلی، هادی (1397). بایسته‌های دیپلماسی انرژی ایران در نظام اقتصاد سیاسی بین‌الملل. فصلنامه مطالعات روابط بین‌الملل. 11 (43)، 73-105.
قائد، ابراهیم؛ دهقانی، علی؛ فتاحی، محمد (1398). بررسی تاثیر انواع انرژی‌های تجدیدپذیر بر رشد اقتصادی ایران. فصلنامه علمی پژوهشی پژوهش‌های رشد و توسعه اقتصادی. 9 (35)، 137-148.
Aburesidze, G. et al (2022). Economic diplomacy and international trade from the WTO perspective. International Journal of Social Sciences and Educational Studies. 4 (6), 11-22.
Appiah, M. et al (2023(. Onifade does financialization enhance renewable energy development in Sub-Saharan African countries? Energy Economics. 125 (6), 106298.
Bayne, N. & Woolcock ,S. (2007). The New Economic Diplomacy Decision- Making and Negotiation in Internation Economic Relations. London: Routledge.
British Petrolum (2022). Energy Outlook 2022 Edition. London, United Kingdom. https://www.bp.org.
British Petrolum (2023). Energy Outlook 2023 edition. London, United Kingdom. https://www.bp.org.
Campos A. & Fernandes, P. (2017). The Geopolitics of Energy. IDN Institute da Defesa Nacional Cadernos.
Energy Institute (EI) (2023). Energy Institute Statistical Review of World Energy 2023. https://www.energyinst.org.
Etheridge, D.M. (2010). Low Dome Ice Core 2000 Year CO2, CH4 and N2O Data. World Data Center for Paleoclimatology and NOAA Paleoclimatology Program. Boulder, CO.
GECF (2023). GECF Annual Gas Market Report 2023. Gas Exporting Countries Forum. Doha, Qatar, 2023.https://www.gecf.org.
Hazrati, M. & Malakoutikhah, Z. (2019). An unclear future for Iranian energy transition in light of the re-imposition of sanctions. Oil, Gas & Energy Law. 17 (1), 1-17. ISSN 1875-418X.https:// eprints. Whiterose.ac.uk/
IEA (2023). World Energy Outlook 2023. International Energy Agency. https://www.iea.org.
IEA (2023). Gas Market Report,Q1-2023. International Energy Agency. https:// www.iea.org.
IEA (2023). Energy Technology Perspectives 2023. International Energy Agency. https:// www.iea.org.
IPCC (2023). AR6 Synthesis Report Climate Change 2023. https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/syr/.
IRENA (2023). Renewable Energy Statistics 2023. International Renewable Energy Agancy. https://www.irena.org.
IRENA (2023). World Energy Transitions Outlook 2023: 1.5 DC Pathway. International Renewable Energy Agancy. https://www.irena.org.
Khabbazan, M. & Van Hirschhausen,Ch. (2021). The implication of the Paris targets for the Middle East through different cooperation options. Energy Economics. 104 (1), 105629. https:// www.elsevier.com / locate/ energy.
Klement, J. (2021). Geo-Economics The Interplay Between Geopolitics. Economics and Investments. CFA: Institute Research Foundation. https://SSrm.com/abstract = 3836915.
Mollahosseini, A. et al (2019). Renewable energy-driven desalination opportunities: A case study. Journal of environmental management. 239, 187-197. DOI:10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.03.044.
Mostafaeipour, A. et al (2014). An analysis of wind energy potential and economic evaluation in Zahedan, Iran. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 30, 641-650.
Najafi, G. et al (2015). Solar energy in Iran: Current state and outlook. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 49,931-942.
Neves, m. S. (2017). Economic diplomacy, Geo-economics and the external strategy of Portugal. E-journal of International Relations. 8 (1), 88-118.
Okano & Heijmans (2011). Conceptualizing economic diplomacy: The crossroads of international relations, economics, IPE and diplomatic studies. The Hague Journal of Diplomacy. 6 (1-2), 7-36.
OPEC (2023). OPEC Annual Statistical Bulletin 2023. Organization of the Petrolum Exporting Countries. Vienna, Austria. https:// www.asb.opec.org.
Overland, I. et al (2019). The GeGalo index: Geopolitical gains and losses after energy transition. Energy Strategy Reviews. 26 (2019), 100406. https:// www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/s 2211467x19300999.
Perez, M. & Perez, R. (2022). A fundamental look at supply side energy reserves for the planet . Solar Energy Advanses. 2 (2022), 100014. https://www.elsevier.com/locate/seja.
Rana, S.K. (2007). Economic diplomacy: The experience of developing countries. The New Economic Diplomacy Decision-Making and Negotiations in International Economic Relations. London: Ashgate.
Rana, K. & Chatterjee, B. (2018). Introduction the role of embassies. Economic Diplomacy. India: S- Experience. https://www. Diplomacy.edu/recourse/economic-diplomacy-experience/
Scholten, D. & Bosman, R. (2016). The geopolitics of renewable, exploring the political implications of renewable energy systems. Technological Forecasting and Social Change. 103, 273-283. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2015.10.014.
Siddi, M. (2021). The geopolitics of the energy transition. FIIA Briefing Paper, Finnish Institute of International Affairs(FIIA). 326, 1-8.
Stevens, P. (2019). The Geopolitical Implications of Future Oil Demand. Chatham House: The Royal Institute of International Affais.
Vakulchuk, R.; Overland, I. & Scholten, D. (2020). Renewable energy and geopolitics: A review. Renewable and sustainable Energy Reviews 122. http://www.elsevier.com/locate/rser.
Van Bergeijk, P. & moons, S. (2024). Introduction to the research handbook on economic diplomacy. Research Handbook on Economic Diplomacy. At:https;//www. Elgaronline.com.
Vidakis, I.; Baltos, G. & Balodis, J. (2017). Geopolitics of energy versus geoenergy of politics. Sosialo Zinatnu Vestnesis. 2, 38-55.
Idakis, I. & Baltos, G. (2015). Security aspects of »Geoenergeia« and the significance of energy resources management in international politics. Geopolitics of Energy. 37 (3), 2-16.