Is Iran a `regional leading power´? How can leadership be conceptualised? How can its impact be measured? While leadership has often been equated with the mere possession of power capabilities, this study emphasises the social and ideational dimensions of leadership, taking recourse to symbolic interactionism, constructivism and reflexive-interpretative methodology. Discourses can be regarded as dynamic arenas in which claims to leadership are articulated, legitimised but also contested. Therefore, they are a commensurate means to grasp potential leadership-relations as well as to identify continuity or change in such relations. A starting point to assess the scope of leadership is to compare the representations of regional order of the potential leader and followers. If they are shared between the two parties and mostly shaped by the potential leader, leadership may be effective at least on a normative level. In the light of the nuclear conflict, which makes this study highly topical, following question is raised: To what extent are Ahmadinejad´s visions of regional order shared by his political counterparts in the Gulf region?
Table of Contents
Preface
I. Introduction
A. Historical Background
B. Research Question
II. State of the Art
III. On Power and Leadership
A. Competing Views of Power
B. How to Convert Potential Power into Leadership
C. Implications for the Study of Regional Leading Powers
IV. Discourse Analysis and Leadership
A. Discourse as an Analytical Tool
1. Discourse and Foreign Policy
2. Discourse and Security
3. Discourse and Leadership
B. Operationalisation of Discourse
1. Reliance on Elite Discourse
2. Data Record
3. Key Words
V. Iran´s Discursive Construction of Leadership
A. Representation of a Repressed Leadership
1. Framed Legitimacy of Nuclear Activities
2. Resistance Against Perceived Injustice
B. Representation of an Alternative Regional Order
1. Narrative of a Responsible Neighbour
2. Construction of Common Interests and Enemies
3. Iranian Entrepreunarialism in the Security Field
VI. Gulf States´ Reception of Iranian Ambitions
A. Linking the Nuclear Issue to Regional Security
1. Common Threat Perception
2. Desiderata of Peace, Stability and Security
B. Limits of Iranian Leadership
1. Counter-Initiatives as Immediate Response
2. Caution on Iranian Initiatives
3. Further Sources of Distrust
VII. Empirical Results
VIII. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
The research objective is to examine how Iran constructs its claim to leadership in the Gulf region through discursive narratives, and to what extent this leadership is accepted or rejected by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states. By utilizing a constructivist framework, the study shifts focus from material power capabilities to how collective representations of security and regional order shape interstate dynamics.
- Constructivist discourse analysis of Iranian leadership claims
- The influence of the Iranian nuclear program on regional security perceptions
- Comparative analysis of Iranian vs. GCC representations of regional order
- The role of "resistance," "independence," and "justice" in Iranian foreign policy discourse
- GCC threat perceptions and the limits of Iranian leadership
Excerpt from the Book
A. Representation of a Repressed Leadership
Along this paper, the assumption was made that the nuclear issue is, if not an integral part of, at least closely related to the Iranian claim to leadership. Therefore, what Iran originally says about its nuclear activities and which meaning it gives to it has to be assessed precisely. In the light of this issue, it will be seen that Iran perceives the current world order as an unjust one, leading it to resist against it and therefore, presenting itself as a unique and alternative leader.
1. Framed Legitimacy of Nuclear Activities
The Iranian stance on the nuclear file has been very constant in the analysed space of time and the Iranian discourse has permanently connected to the same core ideas, norms and values, which can be subsumed as follows: Iran´s nuclear activities are legal, peaceful and a means to achieve progress. Their discursive use will be discussed in the following sections.
An inalienable right – With regard to international law, Iran is committed to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) since its ratification in 1970. Yet, the NPT does not prohibit the peaceful use of nuclear energy, as stated under Article IV. Iran very often refers to this legal mention. As follows, the possession of peaceful nuclear technology is framed as an inalienable right. States, which do not grant Iran this right by passing sanctions against it within the Security Council of the United Nations, are portrayed as violating international law.
Summary of Chapters
I. Introduction: Outlines the regional landscape of the Gulf and introduces the research question regarding Iran's quest for leadership and the role of the nuclear issue.
II. State of the Art: Discusses existing scholarly literature on regional powers and the under-theorized nature of sub-regional leadership dynamics in the Middle East.
III. On Power and Leadership: Critiques traditional materialist concepts of power and establishes a constructivist theoretical framework for leadership based on social relations.
IV. Discourse Analysis and Leadership: Describes the methodology, focusing on discourse analysis as a tool to interpret collective representations and define the data record for the study.
V. Iran´s Discursive Construction of Leadership: Examines how Iranian political elites frame nuclear activities and resistance to global powers to construct a self-image of an alternative leader.
VI. Gulf States´ Reception of Iranian Ambitions: Analyzes the GCC states' discourse, their threat perceptions concerning Iran’s nuclear program, and their strategic responses.
VII. Empirical Results: Synthesizes the findings of the discourse analysis, highlighting the dissonance between Iran’s leadership claims and the GCC’s reception of those claims.
VIII. Conclusion: Summarizes the study’s theoretical and empirical contributions, emphasizing that Iranian leadership in the Gulf remains contested and unaccepted by the GCC.
Keywords
Iran, Gulf Cooperation Council, regional leadership, discourse analysis, nuclear program, constructivism, regional security, identity, Ahmadinejad, hegemony, foreign policy, collective representations, Middle East, non-proliferation, international relations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this publication?
This work examines the discursive construction of Iranian regional leadership in the Gulf, specifically analyzing how the nuclear issue influences Iran's quest for regional influence and how the GCC states perceive these ambitions.
What are the primary themes addressed?
The central themes include the shift from material power definitions to constructivist approaches, the role of discourse in foreign policy, regional security architectures, and the dynamics of legitimacy in power relations.
What is the primary research question?
The study asks how Iran constructs its will and ability to lead the region through discourse and how the nuclear issue shapes the perceptions and reactions of the GCC states toward this claimed leadership.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The study employs a qualitative discourse analysis within a constructivist theoretical framework to assess collective representations and identify core norms like independence, justice, and resistance.
What does the main body cover?
It provides a theoretical debate on power and leadership, details the methodology for selecting elite discourse data, analyzes Iranian construction of leadership, and examines the GCC's reception of Iranian initiatives.
Which keywords define this work?
The work is defined by terms such as Iran, regional leadership, GCC, discourse analysis, collective representations, and regional security.
How does Iran use the nuclear issue to justify its leadership?
Iran frames nuclear technology as an inalienable right and a symbol of scientific and cultural progress, using it to portray itself as a victim of unjust "bullying powers" and a champion for oppressed nations.
Why are the GCC states skeptical of Iranian leadership?
The GCC states perceive Iranian nuclear ambitions as a security-political threat, exacerbated by Ahmadinejad's belligerent rhetoric and concerns regarding Iranian interference in domestic Arab affairs.
- Citation du texte
- Lucie Chamlian (Auteur), 2009, Ahmadinejad´s Quest for Leadership, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/132214
