Geopolitical analysis of influencing factors on the divergences between Iran and Türkiye

Dissertation for Master's Degree (M.A.)

Field: Political Geography

Abstract

The relations between Iran and Turkey have always gone through many ups and downs throughout history and these relations are not specific to recent decades, the two countries have continued their relations as usual since the time of the Ottoman Empire due to their neighborhood. As can be seen from the title of the thesis, this article seeks to carefully examine the factors that cause divergence between the two countries Iran and Turkey.

Iran and Turkey are two powerful players in the peripheral region, each of which pursues certain goals in order to be considered as a regional power.

Turkey is trying to gain a better position than in the past in the developments of the Middle East and play an effective role in the region, on the other hand, the Islamic Republic of Iran also has goals It follows a certain in the region to be considered as a superior power in the region. Both countries want to have more influence in the Middle East region, which in turn has a significant impact on the relations between the two countries and causes divergence between the two countries.

In this thesis, data is used in the form of maps and tables, and the working method is descriptive-analytical.

Just as the three elements of religion, economy and security play the main role in the alignment of the interests of Iran and Turkey, and in fact, these three are the main areas for the expansion of the relations between the two countries. On the contrary, we can point out three elements in the divergence of Iran-Turkey relations, including: 1- The role of global and regional power 2- Ideological 3- Political This issue proves that Iran-Turkey relations have moved towards contradictions in terms of Turkey's foreign policy. It is worth noting that with the change in the nature of Turkey's foreign policy towards Iran and the country's increasing efforts to be a role model in the Middle East region, as well as the country's harsh stance against Syria, Iraq, a kind of darkness can be seen in the relations between Iran and Turkey.

Key words: Iran, Turkey, divergence, Middle East region

Introduction

The historical experience of Iran and Turkey in the two contemporary centuries is similar and identical in many ways. The country was not officially colonized in the 19th century, which was the colonial rule of the common coin in the world and Islamic countries. These two countries, as the survivors of two deep-rooted and great empires in the region, both have a long history of nationality and national identity, and due to their neighborhood, they have had good relations with each other throughout history and in recent decades, especially economically. Regardless of the historical examination of Iran-Turkey relations, a kind of fundamental transformation can be seen in the level of relations between the two countries, Iran and Turkey, in the last few decades. During the rule of the Islamists and the Justice and Development Party, Turkey paid more attention to the Middle East and tried to present itself as a superior power in the Middle East region. In this regard, despite the past cooperation and cultural confrontations and neighbors with each other, with regard to the two countries to be on the platform of superiority in the Middle East region, there are signs of competition and conflict in the relations between the two countries, Iran and Turkey. (onis, 2007: 16)

The countries of Germany, the Netherlands and the United States have announced their readiness to deploy Patriot missiles on Turkey's border with Syria upon Turkey's request from NATO. Iran considers the deployment of America's missile shield in Turkey, especially the areas adjacent to the border with Iran, as a serious threat to its national security and has clearly protested to Turkey in this regard. The country is trying to form a network of political, economic and security cooperation in the region with governmental and even non-governmental actors of that region or extra-regional actors who are present in the region and lead this network. According to its strategy, which is aimed at balancing the foreign policy, Turkey aims to reduce its problems with its neighbors to zero. In this process, the Turkish government attaches great importance to diplomatic power, negotiation and persuasion.But the issue that is raised is that even though both Iran and Turkey are trying to become a regional power, does the pursuit of this strategy require competition or cooperation in the relationship between Iran and Turkey? In this regard, the Islamic Republic of Iran, due to the ideological nature of the ruling system on the one hand and the abundant demographic, territorial, economic power and special geopolitical features and its strategic position in the Middle East on the other hand, has a tendency to become the superior power of the region, and Turkey, in fact, due to its proximity to the West, by taking advantage of the unfavorable situation in the region and gaining regional and international prestige, on the one hand, seeks to optimally use its soft power in the political and international arena, and on the other hand, seeks to establish its role as an actor that creates It is the creator of order in international developments.

The purpose of this research is to obtain information about what factors have caused the divergence between the two countries of Iran and Turkey and what are the solutions for these divergences so that the two countries of Iran and Turkey move towards convergence. (Jalal Derakhsheh, 2010: 34-33) Chapter 1: Research overview 1- Statement of the problem Iran is a country in the southwest of Asia and in the Middle East region and neighbors Turkey from the west. Iran has a strategic position due to its location in the middle region of Eurasia, and the Strait of Hormuz is one of the most strategic international shipping routes in the world. Also, Türkiye is located in Southeast Europe and Southwest Asia. Turkey is surrounded by the sea on three sides and has 7 strategic straits, the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles.

Turkey has a historical background and a well-known identity in the region, and relying on this power, it has tried to influence the countries of the region culturally and ideologically and is trying to create prosperity again. To put it more clearly, the policy of Erdogan's government cannot be interpreted simply as the revival of caliphate or its Islamic elements, but the interest of Justice and Development Party politicians in the Ottoman Empire era should be defined according to the global context in which they see themselves in this context; Communication with the West in the form of membership in the European Union and being a strategic partner of the West are the main elements. On the other hand, Iran, as a regional power with a great civilization and a great historical background and with huge energy reserves, seeks to consolidate and stabilize its position in the region and influence countries and increase its power in various political-cultural-economic fields in the region. Now we have to see what kind of mutual effects the presence of the two countries of Iran and Türkiye as a regional power will have on the relations between the two countries of Iran and Turkey in various political-economic-cultural fields. and whether these effects provide the basis for convergence or cause divergence between the two countries of Iran and Turkey.

The geopolitical analysis of the factors affecting the relations between Iran and Turkey has guided us to the knowledge of the variables affecting the divergence of Iran and Turkey and makes the geopolitical competition of these two countries more obvious to influence the countries of the region. In this research, let's find out what are the factors influencing the geopolitical divergences of Iran and Turkey.

Geopolitical analysis of the factors influencing the divergences of Iran and Turkey

Independent variable Dependent variable 1-2- Research question 1- Factors influencing the geopolitical divergence of Iran and Turkey What are they?

1-3- Research hypotheses

1- Regional competition causes the divergence of Iran and Turkey.

2- Ideological competition plays an important role in the divergence of the two countries of Iran and Turkey.

1-4- Research objectives

1- The scientific goal of this research is to analyze the geopolitical factors affecting the divergences of Iran and Turkey

2- The practical purpose of this research is to investigate the relations between Iran and Turkey in the region and its influence on the countries of the region

3- Other necessities of this research are to analyze the causes of divergences and its effects in the Middle East region

1-5- The necessity and importance of the research

Turkey's foreign policy underwent fundamental and fundamental changes during the Justice and Development Party, which was called "New Neo-Ottomanism". Paying attention to the new Middle East, the new culture that governs it and the native considerations of this region form the basis of Turkey's foreign policy.

However, the new policy of the Justice and Development Party has always faced criticism that it was in conflict with the western policies of this country, but the fact is that Turkey is trying to improve its strategic status in the Middle East, improve its position as a member of NATO, and also get closer to the gates of the European Union.