ايران و روسيه: از موازنه قدرت تا مسيله هويت

Iran and Russia: from Balance of Power to Identity Question

Different theoretical approaches in the field of international relations give different answers to existing ambiguities and questions regarding the reasons for expanding Iran-Russia relations in recent years. While realist approaches try to define Iran- Russia cooperation in the framework of great power relations and their permanent efforts for striking a balance, liberal approaches trace the motivations for improved bilateral relations to their mutual material and economic interests. A major issue which is more or less ignored is that after the collapse of the Soviet Union both Iran and Russia were faced with the pressing need for identity reconstruction. This article argues that while Iran and Russia depend on each other as a source for meeting their security needs or providing their rare material interests (hard currency for Russia and boycotted technology for Iran), they look at each other as a source for meeting their identity needs. This article claims that during the post-Soviet era, Iran has been the most important scene where Russia could play as a great power; on the other hand, Russiaʹs behavior has contributed to the prevention of Iranʹs full international isolation in recent years.