From Identity Convergence to Social Divergence: A Study of the Inter-action of the Islamic Republic of Iran with Iraqi Shi’a Parties, 2003-2021

Subject Areas : علوم سیاسی

mohammad bagher hakim ¹ , Garineh Keshishyan Siraki ^{2 *} , Mohammadreza Ghaedi ³

1 - دانشجوی دکتری
2 - هیات علمی دانشگاه آزاد
3 - دانشیار دانشگاه آزاد شیراز

Received: 2024-02-12 Accepted : 2024-06-19 Published : 2024-06-20

Keywords: Islamic Republic of Iran, Iraq's Shi’a parties, Constructivism, Realism, Foreign Policy, Convergence, Divergence,

Abstract :

The present study aims to identify and analyze the vulnerabilities, challenges, and consequences of the Islamic Republic of Iran's interaction with Iraq's Shi’a parties from 2003 to 2021. The theoreti-cal framework of the research is based on the constructivist approach, which enables a simultane-ous explanation of the role of political and religious identities, beliefs, and discourses in shaping the behavior of Iran and the Shi’a parties. This approach demonstrates that Iran's policies and sup-port were influenced by material and security interests and identity-based and structural interpreta-tions of Iraq's domestic and regional relations. The research method is quantitative-descriptive-analytical, with data collected through questionnaires distributed among Iranian and Iraqi political, cultural, and academic elites, and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical methods. The findings indicate that Iran's interactions with Iraq's Shi’a parties, within the framework of construc-tivism, contributed to consolidating the parties' positions, strengthening their identity and discur-sive cohesion, and fostering ideological alliances. However, in some cases, these interactions led to social divergence, increased internal divisions, and opened space for the influence of regional and extra-regional rivals. This analysis underscores that Iran's international behavior and policies can-not be understood solely through the lens of material interests, but must also be examined within the framework of Iraq's Shi’a identities, beliefs, and discourses. The study concludes by emphasiz-ing the necessity of adopting a balanced policy grounded in identity-based understanding and re-spect for Iraq's independence.

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