Irans Hostile Interference in the Middle East - Research Proposal Example

Iran’s Hostile Interference in the Middle East Name: Course: MA Political Science Date of initial enrollment: Student ID: Supervisor:   Iran’s Hostile Interference in the Middle East 1. Proposed research question Does Iran’s foreign policy and the concept of “exporting the revolution” show any hostility that is likely to destabilize the Middle East region? 2. Objective of the dissertation To show that Iran’s foreign policy and the new Iran “exporting the revolution” announced by Khomeini in 1980 support terrorism and are seeking to destabilize the region. 3. Aims of the dissertation To identify Iran hostility in several platforms with different countries in the Middle East. To determine the relationship between Iran and terrorist groups such as Hezbollah, the Shiite militia, Houthis among other terrorist groups in Syria, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Yemen among other Islamic countries. To assess the Iran new foreign policy and identify how it destabilizes the Middle East. 4. Literature Review Zarif (2014, 49) noted that the idea of foreign policy is a significant component in the lives, governance, and conduct of all nations. Surprisingly, the relevance of the foreign policies is more complicated nowadays than in the past between countries. Notably, the inexorable rise of systems is brought about by increased international players such as multilateral organizations and foreigners. On the other hand, globalization has complicated the policy making strategies through outlining specific weights to bear while launching any foreign policy. Iran, just like any other country, has had to face the challenges of creating systems since its popular revolution of 1979. The post-revolution foreign policy, however, has been based on Iran cherished objectives and ideas that only exist in their constitution. In short, the foreign policy seeks to preserve Iran independence, sustainable development, territorial integrity, and national security. Outside its borders, Iran looks forward to promoting its ideas such as Islamic democracy, to increase its multilateral and bilateral relations with the neighboring countries whether Muslim or nonaligned states. At the same time, the state seeks to manage disagreements and reduce tensions, foster security, and peace through engaging positively at regional and global levels. Lastly, Iran plans to promote dialogue and cultural interaction at the international levels (Ciftci and Tezcür, 2016). While Iran seeks to promote the Islamic systems, peace, and security in the Middle East and the whole world, the other countries such as the US, Saudi Arabia, among others think that Iran is using its foreign policy to foster instability in the region. The 1979 Iran Islamic revolution replaced the westernized Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi monarchy with the Islamism and Shiite Khomeini (Ciftci and Tezcür, 2016). According to Jamal (2014), Khomeini spread the Shia Islamic revival as the revolution, and it was against any westernization. Most importantly, Khomeini was against liberal capitalism or communism associated with the West since he considered the ideologies as martyrdom and injustice of Shia Islam. Khomeini developed an ideology Wilayat-al-Fagih that called Muslims to reject the leadership and Muslim land by foreigners who were nonbelievers. The doctrine was passed through the mosque sermons and other important Muslim meetings. This revolution is viewed as hostile in the world, and interestingly, people believe it can lead to the imbalance of power in the world. The revolutionary slogan, “Neither East nor West” shows that Iran is independent of the Middle East or west models (Findley, Piazza, and Young, 2012, 247). Since the revolution, Iran has been involved in many Islamic revolutionaries in neighboring countries such as Iraq, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait in pursuit to overthrow their monarchies and replace them with Islamic republic’s (El-Katiri 2013). For instance, Iran created Lebanon Hezbollah, a very influential group, in Lebanon; the movement is Shiite and was formed in the 1980s to fight against the Israel invasion (Zein, 2015). However, the group has turned to be a major terrorist organization that acts as a breeding spot for all other Islamic terrorist groups such as Al-Qaeda (Beinin and Vairel, 2013, 57). At the same time, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is charged with promoting the Iran Islamic social policy to the neighboring countries by training terrorist groups. IRGC uses proxy Al Qods force to train any interested militants in all Arabic and Islamic countries. IRGC has worked with several opposition organizations such as Japanese Red Army, Iraqi Dawah party, and the Hezbollah in an attempt to replace their respect governments to the Iran-like state. Correspondingly, the group is also linked to supporting Islamic Jihad, and Hamas in Israel. Also in Iraq, Iran supported the Iraq insurgency (Wigginton et al., 2015, 157). Apart from the Islamic revolutionaries Iran has been accused of sponsoring terrorists with funds, weapons, training, and equipment (Findley, Piazza, and Young, 2012, 256). For instance, Iran has been linked to 9/11 through Al-Qaeda support. The Al-Qaeda was trained by Hezbollah, an Iranian run terrorist group. There intelligence evidence available shows there were communication between the Al-Qaeda bin Laden and the Iranian officials in October 2000 (Beeman, 2008, 40). Beinin and Vairel (2013, 56) observed that Al Qods force is used to train forces in Sudan so that they can fight their non-Islamic government. 5. Bibliography Beeman, W.O., 2008. The great Satan vs. the mad mullahs: How the United States and Iran demonize each other. University of Chicago Press. Beinin, J. and Vairel, F. eds., 2013. Social movements, mobilization, and contestation in the Middle East and North Africa. Stanford University Press. Ciftci, S. and Tezcür, G.M., 2016. Soft Power, Religion, and Anti-Americanism in the Middle East. Foreign Policy Analysis, pp.fpa-12090. El-Katiri, M., 2013. The future of the Arab Gulf monarchies in the age of uncertainties. ARMY WAR COLLEGE CARLISLE BARRACKS PA STRATEGIC STUDIES INSTITUTE. Findley, M.G., Piazza, J.A. and Young, J.K., 2012. Games rivals play: Terrorism in international rivalries. The Journal of Politics, 74(01), pp.235-248. Jamal, U., 2014. The Iranian Nuclear programme: Impact on Regional Stability and Security. E-International Relations Students. Moore-Gilbert, K., 2015. The Arab Gulf States and Reform in the Middle East: Between Iran and the" Arab Spring", by Yoel Guzansky (review). The Middle East Journal, 69(4), pp.630-631. Wigginton, M., Burton, R., Jensen, C., McElreath, D., Mallory, S. and Doss, D.A., 2015. Al-Qods Force: Iran's weapon of choice to export terrorism. Journal of Policing, Intelligence and Counter Terrorism, 10(2), pp.153-165. Zarif, M.J., 2014. What Iran really wants: Iranian foreign policy in the Rouhani Era. Foreign Aff., 93, p.49. Zein, O., 2015. The Middle-Eastern Cold War: The religious struggle between the kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic of Iran. 6. Methodology Conceptual framework The dissertation will utilize a mixed conceptual framework of constructivism theory and the effect of Iran hostility in the Middle East. Constructivism theory expounds on the international relations by concentrating on diverse issues in the world of politics. The method also involves the domestic politics and culture while describing the practices outlined in the media. The excessive power or actions lack meaning in the absence of a particular set of norms. The international relations are, therefore, a social construction. The idea of social construction shows differences across a setting, and thus, seeks to understand why relationships between countries change at international levels. At the same time, the theory demonstrates the importance of language, norms, and rules while forming international relations. Lastly, the theory thinks that individual countries make the international politics (Zein, 2015). Countries behave differently towards their interests, thus, forming different security systems. The systems are competitive, cooperative, and individualistic safety systems in the international interactions. Their anarchy in this theory is as a result of a realistic argument. The case believes in self-help process in the place of the structures, and thus, showing that politics is as a result of powerful institutions. The power distribution affects country individual calculations; nevertheless, the application of the power is subjective to its understanding of the allocation of knowledge to self and others. A meaningful behavior in this context is only achieved within similar social settings. The actors develop relations through norms (Moore-Gilbert, 2015, 630) The proposed research will utilize the secondary data. The information is available in the University Library, British Library, and the British Library of Political and Economic Science (LSE). Similarly, more data will be gathered from internet sources such as the books, newspapers, articles in journals, research reports, journals, editorials and other scholarly works. The study will concentrate on Iran hostility, its domestic and regional changes, and its support to the terrorist groups in the attempt to interfere with the Middle East. The study will in particular show Iran’s relation with GCC, US, Israel, and its involvement in perpetuating the wars in Syria, Yemen, and Iraq. After the collection of sufficient data, I will do data aggregation and analysis so that I have my findings. I will utilize the SPSS software to do my calculations and make conclusions. 7. Dissertation Findings Structure Chapter One: Historical Background Chapter Two: Dispute with the GCC Countries. (Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf) Chapter Three: Iraq, Syria, Lebanon Chapter Four: Israel and the U. S. Chapter Five: Conclusion 8. Research timetable Activity April May June July August September Formulation of research design, historical background and submission to the supervisor x Writing the literature work; handing in and corrections x Writing chapter 3; submission and revision x Writing chapter four; handing in and corrections x Writing chapter five; submission and revision x Collecting information and data analysis x Drafting the final thesis copy and referencing x Submission of the dissertation x 9. My supervisor utilization I intend to consult my supervisor occasionally to ensure I develop an excellent dissertation. My supervisor is essential since they have prior knowledge of writing a thesis, and thus, I know engaging them in my work will lead to a valuable result. I have already met with the supervisor twice. The first meeting allowed us to discuss the framework and structure of the dissertation. In the subsequent meeting, we revised the research draft. I plan to submit each chapter of my thesis to my supervisor to read and show where I can make changes. At every chapter of my dissertation, I will incorporate the supervisor’s feedback. I know the supervisor has a timeline of the activities that should be carried out to complete my dissertation efficiently. I am pleased to plan the research operations with them so that we can work together effectively. The supervisor cannot read a full essay at once, and that is why I will consult them after completion of every chapter of my thesis. My supervisor is my mentor, and thus, my best friend during this period of drafting my dissertation. Read More