Doctoral Thesis
Four Decades of Irreconcilable Enmity between Iran and the United States: An Analytical and Historical Account
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Murdoch University
2022
Abstract
Today the intensification of tensions between Iran and the United States is one of the key causes of instability in the Middle East. Given the significance of Iranian-American hostility in global and regional politics, this study attempts to identify the key factors that have caused the continuation of animosity between the two countries. In many previous studies, the ideological incompatibility between Tehran and Washington has been identified as the main reason for the four decades of hostile relations between the two counties. However, this assumption cannot be accepted as both Tehran and Washington have close relations with countries that are ideologically completely different from them.
Departing from the previous studies, this study hypothesizes that the root causes of longstanding animosity between Iran and the United States are their diametrically opposite, incompatible, and antagonistic positions on three main geopolitical issues. These issues pertain to the conflict of politico-strategic objectives and interests between Iran and the United States in the Middle East, Iran and the United States’ positions on Israel, and Iran and the United States’ approach toward the Iranian nuclear program. These three factors can explain Iran-US hostility at the third level of Kenneth Waltz’s three levels of analysis, which focuses on the anarchical nature of the international environment. While the top priority of states in the anarchical international system is ensuring their security and national interests, their differing objectives and interests can cause mutual suspicion and distrust, prompting them to see each other as enemies. Thus, improving the bilateral relations between the states in such an environment requires aligning their interests and objectives. Just as the different positions of the two states on these three geopolitical issues have formed their incessant enmity, the alignment of Iran and America’s positions on Israel, Iran’s nuclear program, and the expansion of Iran’s influence in the Middle East can lead to the normalization of their bilateral relations.
Details
- Title
- Four Decades of Irreconcilable Enmity between Iran and the United States: An Analytical and Historical Account
- Authors/Creators
- Parisa Abbasian
- Contributors
- Rajat Ganguly (Supervisor)Samuel Makinda (Supervisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Murdoch University; Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- Identifiers
- 991005552965907891
- Murdoch Affiliation
- College of Law, Arts and Social Sciences
- Resource Type
- Doctoral Thesis
Metrics
101 File views/ downloads
209 Record Views