Rethinking the Foundational Assumptions of the Islamic Republic of Iran's Research on Middle Eastern Arab Countries A Critical and Constructivist Approach

Akbari, Hamidreza; Akbari, Hannaneh

doi:10.27834/CSIW.2509.1587.4.40.8

Rethinking the Foundational Assumptions of the Islamic Republic of Iran's Research on Middle Eastern Arab Countries A Critical and Constructivist Approach

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Hamidreza Akbari ¹

Hannaneh Akbari ²

¹ Associate Professor of International Relations, Institute for humanities and cultural studies (IHCS)

² Master of International Relations, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran, h.akbari@ihcs.ac.ir

10.27834/CSIW.2509.1587.4.40.8

Abstract

Over recent decades, Iranian scholarship on Arab countries has expanded significantly, yet it remains deeply anchored in specific epistemological assumptions. Using a mixed theoretical framework of constructivism and critical sociology, this study analyzes the underlying cognitive structures of Iranian regional studies. Through a qualitative content analysis of 50 academic articles and expert interviews, the findings reveal a predominant Hobbesian strategic culture in which 70% of the literature prioritizes security threats and 55% perceives Arab nations as existential rivals. The research argues that this othering process has led to an epistemological impasse, where even cooperative efforts are interpreted as temporary tactical maneuvers. This paper concludes that to reduce the cognitive costs of foreign policy, a paradigm shift is required—moving from an "absolute security-oriented" approach toward a connecting political economy and shared regional identity. Finally, the study suggests that institutionalizing "joint scientific diplomacy" is essential for replacing institutionalized mistrust with a framework of sustainable development and collective security.

Keywords

Regional Studies

Islamic Republic of Iran

Arab Countries

Hobbesian Strategic Culture

Epistemological Impasse

Constructivism

Scientific Diplomacy