Realism and the Role of Energy Sources in Foreign Policy

Subject Areas :

محمد علی شیرخانی ¹ , حامد مهاجرپور ²

1 - استاد و عضو هیأت علمی گروه حقوق و علوم سیاسی دانشگاه تهران
2 - دانشجوی دکتری روابط بین الملل دانشگاه تهران

Received: 2012-09-05 Accepted : 2013-03-15 Published : 2012-01-01

Keywords: Offensive Realism, neo, energy sources, Classical realism, Defensive realism, classic realism,

Abstract :

The present article intends to understand the place of energy sources in analysis of foreign policy in different realist theories. The finding shows that different theories of realism is a suitable analytical starting point for the study of the importance of energy source in foreign policy. The reason is that the realist theories do not undervalue the strategic importance of energy source and they do not consider statesmen as actors with mere economic objectives. Realism looks at energy sources as an element of power and for this reason it gives special place to it for forming the behavior of the states. Of course, among different branches of realism, the neo-classical realism due to its simultaneous attention to system level and domestic level variables can accurately explain how energy sources influence the foreign policy behavior.