The Effect of Normative and Cognitive Ideas on the Foreign Policy (Case study: European Union and the Iran’s Nuclear Program)

Normative and Cognitive Ideas has a great effect on the Foreign Policy. In fact, today the most international relations theories and models- in contrast to traditional theories such as realism- believe that states decide according to numerous and different factors including normative and cognitive ideas, procedures, meanings, and interpretations of ideas. Normative and cognitive ideas define a situation's interpretation. In this framework, considering the international position of the European Union as a great power and its role in international issues and crises, this article analysis its normative and cognitive Ideas in response to the Iranian nuclear program. This research endeavor to answer the question that what is the role of the normative and cognitive ideas of the European Union in dealing with the Iranian nuclear crisis? The article hypothesizes that the EU's response to crises and intergovernmental convergence over international crises like the Iran nuclear issue is sourced out of a single interpretation by normative and cognitive ideas of EU member states.