German Institute for Global and Area Studies | Leibniz-Institut für Globale und Regionale Studien

German Institute for Global and Area Studies | Leibniz-Institut für Globale und Regionale Studien

DEEN

Sara Bazoobandi / Jens Heibach / Thomas Richter

Iran’s Foreign Policy Making: Consensus Building or Power Struggle?

British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies | 2023

  • Abstract

    Who maintains authority over Iran’s foreign policy has long been the subject of debate. Ambiguous constitutional provisions, conflicting foreign policy patterns of different administrations, and their impact on multiple global and regional security concerns have intensified such discussion. Existing studies suggest Iran’s foreign policy is either made through institutional consensus or competition; or, the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has been gradually monopolizing decision-making. This article seeks to identify ways in which the power hierarchy during the Rouhani presidency can be explained. It uses high-level diplomatic meetings as observable evidence in a novel analytical framework to identify the scope of competition and hierarchies in foreign policy decision-making processes. The statistical analysis of high-level diplomatic meetings estimates the changing degree of influence Khamenei holds over foreign policy making and confirms coordination amongst power centers that were often assumed to compete. As the article’s empirical results reveal, observable foreign policy agendas of Iranian key decision makers did not noticeably diverge, and their diplomatic activities were clearly coordinated.

    Research Project

    Regional Institutes

    Research Programmes

    Journal

    British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies

    Number of Pages

    24

    DOI

    Dr. Sara Bazoobandi

    Dr. Sara Bazoobandi

    Research Fellow / Research Team Spokesperson

    [email protected]
    Dr. Jens Heibach

    Dr. Jens Heibach

    Research Fellow

    T. +49 40 42825-715[email protected]
    Prof. Dr. Thomas Richter

    Prof. Dr. Thomas Richter

    Lead Research Fellow / Head of Research Programme "Accountability and Participation"

    T. +49 40 42825-528[email protected]

    Related Content

    Non-State Actors and Autocratic Public Diplomacy: A Transregional View

    GIGA Focus Middle East | 6/2024

    Non-State Actors and Autocratic Public Diplomacy: A Transregional View

    Public diplomacy looms large in the foreign policies of Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey. Zooming in on these states’ engagement with the African continent, this GIGA Focus Middle East explores the role played by real and alleged non-state actors in autocratic public-diplomacy efforts.

    Dr. Jens Heibach

    Mira Demirdirek

    Hamid Talebian

    Irans steiniger Weg in die Freiheit

    Internationale Politik | 01/2023

    Irans steiniger Weg in die Freiheit

    Der Artikel nimmt zunächst die tieferen Ursachen der Proteste in den Blick, um zu untersuchen, was die Proteste für die Menschen und das Regime bedeuten und welche Folgen sie innenpolitisch, regional und international haben könnten.

    Dr. Sara Bazoobandi

    Research Fellow / Research Team Spokesperson

    Iran Protests: Reform, Revolution, or Status Quo?

    Blog Article | 10/2022

    Iran Protests: Reform, Revolution, or Status Quo?

    The demands of the protesters for regime change are a clear manifestation of the deep frustration and the loss of hope for reform among the Iranian public and seem to signal that the time is ripe for comprehensive change.

    Dastan Jasim

    Associate

    Dr. Sara Bazoobandi

    Research Fellow / Research Team Spokesperson

    Notification

    Sign up to receive email notifications about GIGA activities

    Social Media

    Follow us

    German Institute for Global and Area Studies | Leibniz-Institut für Globale und Regionale Studien
    Logo Total E Quality
    Logo Hamburger Allianz Fuer Familien
    Logo Leibniz
    Alt Text Footer Logo Hamburg Ministry of Science, Research, Equalities and Districts
    Logo Auswertiges Amt