The Journal of Foreign Policy

The Journal of Foreign Policy

Justice-seeking as an identity-making component of the I. R. of ‎Iran's Foreign Policy ‎

Document Type : Research Paper

Abstract
Pursuit of 'justice' is an apparent and highly appreciated norm in foreign policy approaches of the Islamic Republic of Iran. This norm has shaped the identity of the I. R. Iran as a 'justice-seeking' political actor at international arena. Applying the constructivist framework, this article aims to study the role of 'identity' in precision of interests and the logic of practice and performance of States as the main players in international relations.  Two questions are to be answered; first, what are the identity-making resources for foreign policy of the I. R. of Iran? And, second, what is the conceptual role of 'justice' in identity making resources of the Islamic Republic?
The authors would explain that the Iranian history, its geopolitics, Islamic teachings, the 'Third World' orientation, and the discourse of the Islamic Revolution constitute the identity making resources of Iran’s foreign policy. In the core of these resources, one could find 'justice-seeking' as a conceptual nucleus which reproduces and mutually reinforces the identity of I. R. of Iran's foreign policy.