Realist Tradition in Iran

One of the bases for the development of an Iranian theory of international relations is the intellectual and practical traditions found in the course of Iran’s history. The ways in which Iranians have perceived and understood world politics, however, have not been monolithic and have changed in the course of time due to particular historical circumstances inside Iran as well as at the regional and international levels. Yet, this article argues that one may see the persistence of some ‘realist’ element in many of these various perceptions. Exploring into these understandings may pave the way for the generation of ‘Iranian Realism’ as an endogenous Iranian theory of international relations based on Iranian culture and historical experiences. It may also shed light on Iran’s foreign policy behavior in different periods. The article shows that four main types of Iranian ‘realism’ can be recognized on the basis of Iranian politicians’ attitude and their practice in foreign affairs. They include regional, submissive, pragmatic, and critical/confrontationist realisms.