Theoretical Analysis of the Relations between Regional System and Foreign Policy

Introduction Foreign Policy is a comprehensive plan developed by states to interact with external environment. The type and the nature of the interactions between foreign policy and the external environment is a key issue to understand both of them. In this article, it is argued that regional system is one of the most important features of the external environment, which doesn’t have one-dimensional relations with foreign policy; it means, on one hand, foreign policy impacts on the nature and quality of interactions within the regional system, on the other hand, the regional system and its components act as an independent variable in defining and drawing the goals and priorities of foreign policy. In other words, Foreign policy and regional system define each other, mutually.
Methodology This article, utilizing Institutional as well as explanatory methods, seeks to demonstrate that how the foreign policy of the main actors of a region as an institution, define another institution called regional system, and the constructed regional system how impacts on the defining, planning and execution of foreign policies of the main actors.
Findings Finding of the article would be discusses under these umbrella topics:- Defining Regional system and its components;
- The type of the relations between regional systems and macro structure of the International System; The relations between Regional system and Foreign Policy.
Conclusion Due to the relative independence of the regional system, after the dissolution on the USSR and the end of the cold war, from the macro structure of International system, it is possible to examine its relations with other issues such as Foreign policy. In the current article, it is demonstrated that after the Cold War, because of the lack of capabilities, most of the states are trying to define their foreign policies according to their corresponding regional system. This situation has enabled the main actors of each regional system to play a crucial role in defining the regional system. On the other hand, it is argued that after construction, the regional systems are not fully obedient of the main actors and act as an independent factor imposing some requirements to the states’ foreign policies.