The possibility of economic convergence between the members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the opportunities facing Iran

Subject Areas : International Relations

faeze moradi haghighi ¹ (Institute For Trade Studies and Research)

Received: 2022-09-11 Accepted : 2023-09-12 Published : 2023-08-23

Keywords: Iran, Export, Economic Convergence, Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Importation,

Abstract :

Shanghai Cooperation Organization with membership of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India and Pakistan, on September 17, 2021, agreed to Iran's membership in the organization. After a year passed since the conditional approval of Iran's membership in the Shanghai Organization, on 17 September 2022, Iran officially became a full member of this organization. The structure of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, with the predominance of security and political propositions, also has economic dimensions, which, if properly understood, will create opportunities for Iran in the economic and trade fields. Accordingly, an attempt has been made to examine the possibility of convergence under this organization in the form of a theoretical framework of regionalism; In this study, in response to the question "Is it possible for regional integration between the SCO countries and provide opportunities for Iran under this cooperation?", Using descriptive-analytical method and data collection, with the help of library and Internet resources and under the theoretical framework of new regionalism, it is hypothesized that "the SCO, due to the priority of security-political goals, disagreement of key members in pursuing economic goals and the weakness of structures and institutions to pursue economic programs, has minimal potential for economic integration among its members, but in case of lifting the sanctions obstacles facing Iran, it will provide opportunities for political unity and economic opportunities for the country."