A Constructivist Explanation of the Disintegration of Ties Between Iran and the [Persian] Gulf Cooperation Council

This article studies the theoretical aspects of the disintegration in relations between Iran and the [Persian] Gulf Cooperation Council, without putting an emphasis on a given period. The main question is why such ties have moved towards disintegration, despite the many common grounds for integration between the two sides. The author’s hypothesis is that the disintegration of ties between Iran and GCC members is due to the existing state of the international system as well as lack of common norms. Due to this latter factor, the author argues that there is no ground for creating a common identity; thus leading to the existing rivalry as well as lack of confidence and regional awareness between the two sides. Because of the impact of these factors, there has been no amelioration in bilateral relations during the ninth and tenth Iranian governments. Instead, the disintegration of ties has been aggravated. The author concludes that due to the impact of these variables, integration between Iran and GCC states is a difficult task. Then, the author presents some options that will facilitate a transition from the existing anarchy to a collective identity, paving the way for cooperation and interaction.