Behavioral sample of the Republic of Azerbaijan towards the Islamic Republic of Iran in two-way interactions; outcome of identity concepts

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 and achievement of independence by the 15 breakaway republics, the security interests of the I.R. Iran in Central Asia and the South Caucasus was changed. The I.R. Iran could secure its security interests in the region by expanding its relations and cooperation with the newly independent republics. One of the important independent republics was the Republic of Azerbaijan, which because of its neighborhood plays a strategic role in the I.R. Iran''s security interests. Despite the strong historical, religious, civilizational and cultural ties of the Republic of Azerbaijan with the territory of Iran, its relations with the I.R. Iran in the post-independence era were more on the axis of divergence than on the axis of convergence. In this divergence, the role of identity concepts seems to be very important. This study is going to answer this key question that what was the effects of the concepts of identity on the relationship between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the I.R. Iran? The study show that the concepts of identity such as: the construction of Azeri identity confrontations with Persia promoted by the political elites of the Republic of Azerbaijan, secularism against Islamism at the domestic level of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the different perceptions and approaches of the two governments at the regional level and the international system have influenced the divergence of the Republic of Azerbaijan with the I.R. Iran. Those concepts direct the republic of Azerbaijan to choose deferent sovereignty system and develop its relations with the countries that their attendance in the region threaten the Islamic Republic of Iran’s security. The research method in this article is descriptive-analytical and the data collection method is library and Internet resources.